It was precisely this privileged position that greatly increased the power of the abbey, which enjoyed great strategic importance in the Middle Ages. The Black Plague marked the end of the place: the monks, having little space at their disposal, threw their dead in a ditch near the well from which they drew water to drink, infesting the entire population. Inside the splendid Romanesque church with a basilica plan, a fresco is still visible where the village seems to float on the water. This is the same abbey mentioned by Archbishop Sigeric as Borgonuovo – the original name of the place. It was he who “designed” the route of the Francigena in 990 AD, when he related the 79 stages completed during his return journey from Rome, where he had gone to receive the papal investiture, in Canterbury. The section of the Tuscan Francigena that connects the ancient village to Monteriggioni is beautiful. The route is of low level of difficulty and runs for about 4 km. Great golden expanses of wheat, woods and suggestive views of the castle, a destination for the traveler. Those looking for low cost accommodation will find the Contessa Ava municipal hostel in Abbadia a Isola
