Six of us are heading to Italy in September 2023 for two weeks. I am planning our trip using Rick Steves Tuscany book dated 2019. I really want us to experience the service where the monks are chanting their prayers/ songs but cannot find any place on the internet that indicates if they have services on Saturdays. If they have a Saturday service can you let me know the times and how long they are. If Saturdays are a no service day then share with me the services times for Friday and Sunday. We may need to rework our plans. Thank you.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16644 posts
Hi - have you looked at the website for the abbey? And I'll assume you will have a car?
https://www.monteolivetomaggiore.it/abbazia/orari-ss-messe-e-liturgia-monastica/
If you need a more definitive answer, email them:
https://www.monteolivetomaggiore.it/contatti/scrivici/
If you will be visiting Florence, and Gregorian chant is of interest, consider a service at San Miniato:
https://www.sanminiatoalmonte.it
Google translated:
Opening hours of the Basilica
Monday-Saturday 9:30-13:00; 15:00-19:00
Sunday 8:15-13:00; 15:00-19:00
During liturgical celebrations the Basilica cannot be visited.
Admission is free and no reservations are required for individual visitors, groups or school trips
Hours of Eucharistic celebrations
Sundays and public holidays: 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am and 5.30pm
The 5.30pm celebration is in Latin and Gregorian chant
Weekdays: 6.00 pm, in Latin and in Gregorian chant
Every afternoon at 18:30 the monastic community celebrates vespers in Latin and in Gregorian chant
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2205 posts
I can't help you with your question, but we did attend vesper services on a Wednesday evening December 2015. There was one other person there, a lady from a nearby village. It was a wonderful service and well worth the effort to attend.
Posted by
489 posts
Here is a link to San Miniato al Monte walking distance from Florence with chant schedules: https://www.san-miniato-al-monte.com
Abbey San'tAntimo used to have Gregorian but it's been a few years. Monte Oliveto Maggiore and San Galgano are worth a visit without chanting. Great terrace restaurant at Monte Oliveto, frescoes in the cloister by Sodoma, and monks in white.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16644 posts
Brad, that website is not the official one for the church, and looks like it hasn't been updated since 2020 so I personally wouldn't trust the visiting info. What was translated from the official site also matches what's on the "Visit Florence" tourism site, which is generally current.
https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-churches/san-miniato.html
Posted by
Hampshire, UK
407 posts
"Abbey San'tAntimo used to have Gregorian but it's been a few years" - it's been a few years since I was last there, but at that point they had announced that the abbey was no longer viable, and the brothers were going to amalgamte with another monestry (I seem to remember that it was in France)