The Abbey of San Salvatore di Monte Acuto, or Badia di Monte Corona, was an important Benedictine monastery of the 11th century. Founded around 1008 by St. Romualdo, the founder of the Order of Monks Camaldolesi, established several hermitages and monasteries, leaving significant traces of its passage across the Apennines between Umbria and Marche and Tuscany.
UPPER CHURCH
The upper church was built in two stages: first, the part above the crypt, consecrated by St. John of Lodi, bishop of Gubbio, and dedicated to St. Sofia later in the sixteenth century, once built the Hermitage Montecorona, it was necessary to enlarge the church and the extension that was built, dedicated to St. Agnes, was assigned to the faithful, while the oldest was reserved for monks. The church was renovated and transformed in the eighteenth century, and then returned to its original state in the 1960s.
In the tradition of the best Italian churches, the Badia features the remains of a (very short) saint encased in glass.
CRYPT
The most remarkable feature of this church is in the basement - an ancient Roman temple has been converted to a small chapel, dedicated to Our Lady of Grace.
The columns, probably from a pre-existing early Christian or pagan temple, are architecturally and historically significant because they are a very rare example of mixing styles (Corinthian, Doric and Ionic styles are all present).
BELL TOWER
Outside, near the front, is the imposing tower with the clock restored in 1992. We have little information about the date of construction of the bell tower, by the very special structure: born in circular (the Lombard period) and continues upwards (XIV century). The peculiarity of the structure, and small holes that can be seen, lead us to believe that it was once a defensive tower.
HERMITAGE
On the top of the mountain near the oratory of S. Savino, is the hermitage of Monte Corona. You can drive up the hill, or hike up a path called the "bricks." The Hermitage, which dates back to the sixteenth century, consists of a complex of buildings, with 16 cells, where Camaldolese lived and prayed, and a Baroque church consecrated in 1755. There currently resides a religious community that applies the rule of enclosure.
Abbrazia Restaurant
There is a very nice restaurant in the Badia di Monte Corona called Abbrazia.