It was built after the year 1000 as a hostel in order to replace the castle of Fontebuona owned by the count Maldolo, and it later became the monastery of the Camaldoli monks. In the 16th century there was a printing house in it, where the "Costituzioni Camaldolesi" establishing the rules of the forest management were printed. The cloisters and the Church of St. Donnino and Ilariano, with their beautiful paintings by Vasari, are wonderful works of art. On one side of the monastery there is the ancient chemist's shop with alembics, mortars, stoves, and precious manuscripts coming from the galenical laboratory of the monks.
In the surroundings there is now a nature trail called "Alberi e bosco" with the following features: