Vallombrosa
The Abbey of Vallombrosa is located at about 1,000 meters above sea level on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, 35 km from Florence, surrounded by a vast forest of ancient trees. Founded by San Giovanni Gualberto in 1028, the abbey is still inhabited by monks faithful to the Rule of Saint Benedict who, in response to their vocation, lead a withdrawn life immersed in silence, dedicated to prayer, contemplation, and work.
The monks of the Abbey of Vallombrosa, guardians of a millenary culture, continue the activities and ancient practices of their predecessors: they take care of the preservation of the precious library, which houses incunabula and ancient manuscripts; they safeguard the integrity of the vast forest of Vallombrosa; they produce natural medicines and cosmetics, jams, honey, sweets, syrups, liqueurs, and distillates.
Among the homemade products sold by the monks of Vallombrosa for their sustenance stands out the Dry Gin of Vallombrosa, an ancient and traditional distillate made from juniper berries collected from the hills of San Sepolcro and Pieve Santo Stefano, in the province of Arezzo. The high aromatic concentration of this plant, discovered by the monks during their forest conservation activities, makes the Gin of Vallombrosa a unique distillate, so much so that some English distillers have taken samples and made use of it. It is a renowned high-quality Gin: a meditative distillate, with which to experience that inner peace and contemplative attitude characteristic of the monks of Vallombrosa.
The Abbey of Vallombrosa is located at about 1,000 meters above sea level on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, 35 km from Florence, surrounded by a vast forest of ancient trees. Founded by San Giovanni Gualberto in 1028, the abbey is still inhabited by monks faithful to the Rule of Saint Benedict who, in response to their vocation, lead a withdrawn life immersed in silence, dedicated to prayer, contemplation, and work.
The monks of the Abbey of Vallombrosa, guardians of a millenary culture, continue the activities and ancient practices of their predecessors: they take care of the preservation of the precious library, which houses incunabula and ancient manuscripts; they safeguard the integrity of the vast forest of Vallombrosa; they produce natural medicines and cosmetics, jams, honey, sweets, syrups, liqueurs, and distillates.
Among the homemade products sold by the monks of Vallombrosa for their sustenance stands out the Dry Gin of Vallombrosa, an ancient and traditional distillate made from juniper berries collected from the hills of San Sepolcro and Pieve Santo Stefano, in the province of Arezzo. The high aromatic concentration of this plant, discovered by the monks during their forest conservation activities, makes the Gin of Vallombrosa a unique distillate, so much so that some English distillers have taken samples and made use of it. It is a renowned high-quality Gin: a meditative distillate, with which to experience that inner peace and contemplative attitude characteristic of the monks of Vallombrosa.
