Badia a Passignano A guide to the abbey, the hills around it, and the people who work them.

Getting to Badia a Passignano

The abbey is 31 km south of Florence, in the hills between the Florence–Siena road and Greve. You need a car, a taxi or a bicycle for the last four kilometres.

From Florence
31 km, about 45 minutes
From Siena
50 km, about 55 minutes
Nearest exit
Tavarnelle, on the Florence–Siena road, 10 km away
Parking
Free car park at the entrance to the village. Directions to the car park
Bus or train
None to the abbey. Nearest bus stops in Sambuca, 4 km away

By car

From Florence. Take the Florence–Siena dual carriageway south and leave at Tavarnelle. Follow the signs for Sambuca, cross the Pesa river there, and climb the last four kilometres to Badia a Passignano.

From Siena. The same road north, the same exit.

From Greve or Panzano. Eight or nine kilometres of narrow hill road. Allow 25 minutes.

From Distance Driving time
Florence, city centre 31 km 45 min
Siena 50 km 55 min
Florence airport 39 km 50 min
Pisa airport 91 km 1 h 30
Greve in Chianti 8 km 25 min
Poggibonsi railway station 21 km 30 min

The road up from Sambuca is paved, narrow and popular with cyclists. The estates beyond the abbey, Rignana and Poggio al Sole among them, are reached by strade bianche: gravel roads that any car can take slowly.

Parking

There is a free public car park at the entrance to the village, two minutes on foot from the abbey gate. Trail 460 and trail 458 start here, and there is a drinking fountain in the village.

Without a car

No bus or train reaches the abbey. The nearest bus stops are in Sambuca Val di Pesa, 4 km away; the regional operator’s journey planner has current times. From Sambuca it is about an hour’s walk uphill on a quiet road, or a taxi.

The nearest railway stations are Poggibonsi–San Gimignano, 21 km away, and Florence. If you are staying in Florence without a car, a taxi or a driver for the day is the realistic choice.

Electric cars

The nearest public charging points are in Sambuca and in Greve. Ask where you are staying whether they have a charger for guests.

Once you are here

Visit the abbey, pick a trail, or follow one of the itineraries.

Common questions

Is there a bus to Badia a Passignano?

No. The nearest bus stops are in Sambuca Val di Pesa, about 4 km down the hill. From there it is a walk of about an hour uphill, or a taxi.

How long does it take to drive from Florence to Badia a Passignano?

About 45 minutes for 31 km: the Florence–Siena road to the Tavarnelle exit, then through Sambuca and up to the abbey.

Is parking at the abbey free?

Yes. There is a free public car park at the entrance to the village, two minutes on foot from the abbey.

Is the road to the abbey paved?

Yes, from Sambuca and Tavarnelle. Some of the estates beyond the abbey, such as Rignana and Poggio al Sole, are reached by gravel roads that any car can drive slowly.

Checked: November 2026