In the beautiful setting of Bobbio stands a monumental site that between the 7th and 12th centuries became one of the most important monastic centres in Europe, so much so that it is considered the Montecassino of northern Italy.

We are talking about the Abbey of St Colombano, founded by the Irish monk St Colombano in 614, a period when the Lombards invaded the northern part of the peninsula and around which the entire urban fabric of the city of Bobbio developed.

An important centre of worship, but also of culture, the Abbey became famous for the rich catalogue of its scriptorium, which came to hold more than 700 codices, and although many of these were dispersed and scattered to other places, it preserved as many as 25 of the 150 oldest manuscripts of Latin literature in the world.

The structure visible today dates back to the late 15th, early 16th century and retains parts of the original basilica, visible in the apse, bell tower and mosaic floor.

The former refectory of the 11th-century monastery now houses the City Museum.

The basilica built in the Renaissance period on the remains of the medieval church preserves splendid frescoes related to the Holy Scriptures and in particular a reference to Verse 6.63 of the Gospel of John, which earned it the name Basilica of the Spirit.

Every day since 1946, we have contributed to preserving the precious value of our territory, which we will share at the new edition of Vinitaly, thanks to our wines that express its deep essence.