Beds: 9 Baths: 12 Interior: 1,192 m² / 12,830 ft² Land: 1 ha / 2.47 acres

Amenities: Former Benedictine monastery with preserved church and crypt, central courtyard with well, guest house, panoramic terraces, exhibition and event spaces, historic brick kiln, garage, landscaped park, adaptable workshop and reception areas

The historic sections, including the church and crypt, have been repurposed for exhibitions, workshops, and events, and have hosted cultural programming that has drawn interest from institutions such as UNESCO.

A former Benedictine monastic complex has been carefully renovated into a private home, located just outside the hilltop town of Bettona, near Perugia. The property is on the market with Italy Sotheby's International Realty, listed for €1,500,000.

Documented as early as 1014, regional sources identify the property as the former Abbey of San Crispolto al Piano, built on a flat plain historically associated with the martyrdom of the saint. The church of the abbey once housed his relics before their transfer to Bettona in the 13th century.

The architectural elements of the original structure remain clearly intact. The single nave, raised presbytery, and apse form the backbone of the property, with the apse itself among the oldest surviving components. Beneath it sits a crypt considered one of the oldest in Umbria, a raw Romanesque space that has been left largely stripped back, emphasizing the age and structure of the building rather than any decorative treatment.

In the 1970s, the property was acquired in a deteriorated state and carefully restored by its owners at the time. The approach focused on retaining the monastic core while introducing modern structural elements where necessary. Steel beams and exposed concrete are used alongside original stonework, terracotta, and timber, resulting in a restrained intervention that prioritises continuity over contrast.

The property extends across approximately 1,192 m² (12,830 ft²) and includes a main residence, a separate guest house, and a series of large, adaptable spaces within the former church and adjoining volumes. In total, there are 9 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms.

The historic sections, including the church and crypt, have been repurposed for exhibitions, workshops, and events, and have hosted cultural programming that has drawn interest from institutions such as UNESCO.

A central courtyard with a well anchors the layout, reflecting the remains of the original cloister. The estate sits within approximately 1 hectare (2.47 acres) of land, bordered by hedging and mature vegetation, providing privacy while remaining connected to the surrounding village.

Located just 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) from Bettona’s historic centre, the property sits within easy reach of Assisi, approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) away, and Perugia at around 18 kilometres (11.2 miles). Bettona is one of the oldest settlements in the region, often referred to as the “Etruscan balcony” for its elevated position overlooking the Umbrian valley toward Assisi and Perugia. Compared to neighbouring Tuscany, Umbria remains more understated, with a quieter, less commercialized character and a reputation as the “green heart of Italy.”

Antica Badia is less about a finished residential product and more about occupying a preserved architectural structure that has evolved over centuries, with its original volumes still defining how the space is used today.

All photos belong to the listing agency. See more on Italy Sotheby’s International Realty.