Abbey of San Paolo in Razzuolo

The Abbey of San Paolo, in the municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo, is the historical and spiritual heart of Razzuolo, a small village in the Mugello Apennines surrounded by woods and mountain slopes.

Its origins date back to the 11th century and are linked to Saint John Gualbert, founder of the Vallombrosan Order, who contributed to the spread of monastic life in the area. According to tradition, after receiving the territories of Razzuolo and Crocifero from Ottaviano degli Ubaldini, the saint had the Abbey built around the middle of the 11th century. The monastery was entrusted to Abbot Teuzzone and a group of monks, giving rise to a religious community destined to leave a lasting mark on the history of the area.

The small village of Razzuolo gradually developed around the Abbey and life there remained closely linked to the monastery for a long time.

For several centuries, the Vallombrosan monks continued to live and work in Razzuolo, supporting the growth of the community and keeping the religious character of the village alive. However, in the 17th century, the monks gradually left the Abbey and relocated to Ronta, marking the beginning of a new phase in the building’s history. The Abbey underwent restoration work at a later date, but at the end of the 18th century, the suppression of religious orders permanently brought its monastic function to an end. Another change occurred in the 19th century, when the construction of the new Faentina road altered the building and led to the demolition of the apse section of the church. Thus, the transept, the choir and the high altar were lost, while some of the original structures are still recognizable today, making it possible to reconstruct the appearance of the ancient complex.

Inside, there is a simple rectangular nave with a wooden roof, featuring stone walls and an intimate setting that preserves the atmosphere of the ancient place of worship. The presbytery contains several works of art and sacred images, including statues of the Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart and a painting depicting St. Paul, patron saint of the Abbey. The original entrance is also still recognizable at the rear of the building, where the original door and a lunette with a multicolored stained-glass window have been preserved.

Today, surrounded by the Apennine landscape and the woods that have reclaimed many of the spaces that were once inhabited and cultivated, the Abbey retains the charm of a place suspended between history, nature and spirituality.