San Miniato al Monte and the best views of Florence

Far from the splendour of the great churches in the heart of Florence, San Miniato al Monte reveals its charms in a more discreet way. The small basilica sits on top of a hill overlooking Florence, attracting curious onlookers in search of great photos.

One of the finest examples of Florentine Romanesque architecture, construction of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte began in the 11th century. The church is dedicated to one of the city's great martyrs, Saint Minias, who was executed in Roman times (250 BC), tortured in the ancient amphitheatre for refusing to worship the pagan gods. The future Saint was then beheaded at the Gate of the Cross, where Christians were executed.

Like Saint-Denis in Paris, he is said to have picked up his own head and made his way to the hill where the church dedicated to him now stands. Florentines celebrate San Miniato every year on 25 October.

Past the polychrome marble façade, you enter a building richly decorated with frescoes and mosaics, notably covering the vault of the apse: to the right of Jesus, our Saint Miniato is depicted facing the Virgin.

Adjacent to San Miniato al Monte, the Benedictine monastery, which is still in operation, is almost always closed to the public. It overlooks the Porte Sante cemetery, where the author of Pinocchio is buried! Beyond, Florence, the city, gives way to the Tuscan countryside: beautiful properties enjoy a green setting, in the shade of cypress and olive trees...

The tour continues on foot, passing by the little church of San Salvatore al Monte, still high up on the hill, to reach a well-known square in Florence: Piazzale Michelangelo. It was named in honour of the famous sculptor, from whom another copy of his masterpiece, Michelangelo's David, can be seen in the square.

This esplanade forms a belvedere with a breathtaking view over the whole of Florence. It's not hard to see why 80% of postcard photos of the city are taken from Piazzale Michelangelo.

The view encompasses the entire Centro Storico and Florence's most emblematic districts. Not far from the Basilica of Santa Croce, the dome of Florence's Duomo stands out clearly, accompanied as always by the tall tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, and extended by the Ponte Vecchio crossing the Arno: an anthology of Florence's treasures, in a unique panorama!

From Piazzale Michelangelo, it's only a few minutes' walk to the San Niccolo district, one of the most authentic and lively in Florence: the ideal place to find a Florentine pied-à-terre.