Montalto Abbey

Montalto Abbey, dedicated to San Salvatore in Summano, is a place of timeless charm. According to tradition, it was built before the year 1000 on the ruins of a pagan temple dedicated to the gods of the Underworld. The name Summano is believed to derive from the Latin Sub Manis.

A Place of History and Atmosphere

The abbey’s charm is further enhanced by a monumental oak tree and the surrounding cemetery, which give the site a peaceful and evocative atmosphere, recalling echoes of a distant past.

The Ghost Church of Careste

Not far away stand the ruins of the 18th-century Church of Careste, dedicated to Saint Andrew the Apostle. Abandoned in the mid-1960s, little more than its façade and load-bearing walls remain today.

Its isolated location and surviving structures make it a particularly atmospheric place, surrounded by the Apennine landscape.

The Natural Heritage of Careste

The Careste area has been designated a Site of Community Importance (SCI), an area of outstanding natural value and rich biodiversity, where wild orchids can also be found growing naturally.

Here, the landscape retains a strong sense of harmony between human activity and nature.

Further Information: Sarsina Tourism – Montalto and the Abbey of San Salvatore in Summano