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Basilica San Miniato al Monte

Basilica San Miniato al Monte

Basilica San Miniato al Monte
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsLookoutsReligious Sites
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
About
Situated on a hill (monte) outside Florence with unsurpassed views of the city, this structure is one of the finest examples of Tuscan Romanesque architecture, built between the 11th and 13th centuries.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Piazzale Michelangelo
Just outside the ancient walls of Florence, Viale Michelangiolo starts. It is a winding road rimmed by wonderful poplars and holm oaks. The long ascent opens up to the most beautiful and famous panoramic viewpoint of Florence: Piazzale Michelangelo, where an elevated terrace offers visitors an incomparable and breathtaking view of the entire city from above. During good weather, Piazzale Michelangelo provides visitors with a serene space surrounded by the amazing landscape, better if accompanied by a fresh gelato from a local kiosk. During night, visitors will be dazzled by the warm lights of the capital of the Renaissance. Spend a second with the silent Romanesque beauty of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte: the one that wishes good morning and good night to Florence!
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See what travellers are saying
  • mashie44
    Belgium154 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chanting is at 6.30, ignore the guides that say 4.30. Worth it! And great views.
    The widely-published info on hours of monks charting is incorrect. They chant at 6.30 each day. We arrived at 4.30 (as all online guides we found said this was the time for chanting in winter). At 4.45 asked the man at the door who said it is always 6.30. So we came back a couple of days later and did enjoy it. The church is cold if you sit for long. The floor is lovely (zodiac mosaic). Interesting restoration work currently going on. Well worth the short walk up from Piazzale Michelangelo, and has even better views of the city
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written February 22, 2024
  • Elizabeth C
    5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful views, 1000 year old church
    Perched on the highest point above Florence, the views were terrific. It is a climb, so wear comfortable shoes. We hoped to hear the chants at 6, but there were no chants that day. Church was built in 11th century and it’s really something to think it’s been in service for nearly 1000 yrs. Went here first, then went back down via Piazza Michaelangelo.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written May 2, 2024
  • Kennette B
    La Grange, Illinois36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The sound of Florence
    This is a beautiful place that harkens to an older Florence where religion was essential and life was slow and elemental. The views from the courtyard are wonderful, and as we went late in the day for the chants, we were treated to a glorious sunset over the rooftops. The interior of the church was austere, and we had no trouble following our ears to the monks. There were not many of them, but the acoustics are such that each voice was multiplied. The walk down was more pleasant than the walk up, but the effort was more than rewarded by a wonderful memory.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written May 29, 2024
  • Jamie
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful church with singing monks
    A lovely church on the top of the hill. We were there in time for Vespers and got to hear the monks sing a Gregorian chant. Amazing experience! If you’re walking up from Florence be prepared for a pretty steep ascent!
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written June 18, 2024
  • PatchWelling
    Marlow, United Kingdom1,958 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Walking up to the viewpoint
    It was quite a walk uphill to this place, which offered a lovely view of Florence. It took an hour the long way round following the road! But there was a more scenic walkway which we didn’t see during the climb. It was exhausting and hot, so please be prepared. At time some areas were stepper but it was a great exercise. We did the trip on Sunday which was not too busy as residents were in the basilica (church). I was particularly sweaty after the climb and the toilet at the viewpoint required coin payment. The graveyard area was pleasant to explore and culturally really pleasant and peaceful. There was cab and golf buggy ride to the top if walking is not your thing. Try it for yourself.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written September 8, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles5,412 reviews
Excellent
4,189
Very good
1,046
Average
155
Poor
15
Terrible
7

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Roger Montala
Valls, Spain383 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
It is quite popular to go to piazzale Michelangelo, but if you walk some more, you can get to this church at the top of the hill.
The views are even better, and you can visit the church for free! (something unusual in Florence).

We even got the chance to hear some people singing inside
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

iris64
Budapest193 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
If you decide to go up to Piazzale Michelangelo do not miss this church. It is a short walk from piazzale, if you are not keen on climbing steps you can walk up to the church on a side road. San Miniato has a special atmoshpere, beautiful frescos on the wall and an amazing dome decorated with gold mosaic Entrance is free. There is a very interesting and old cemetery just beneath the church.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert B
Saratoga Springs, NY1,046 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Constant Companion and I had made our way up to Pizzale Michelangelo on our final day in Florence. Once there we also visited the Basilica San Miniato al Monte. Folklore has it that Miniato, a Christian Armenian prince, was ordered to be thrown to the beasts by the Emperor Decius. When a panther refused to consume him the Emperor ordered him beheaded. It was then that Miniato supposedly picked up his own head and walked up to his hermitage on the hill. Interesting stuff!
The Basilica was begun around 1013. We found it noteworthy for the beautiful glazed terracotta decorations by della Robbia in the vault as well as the crucifix by him on the High Altar! The bones of St. Miniato may or may not be in this High Altar too. Outside is a massive and lovely cemetery containing such notable people as Carlo Collodi, the creator of Pinocchio, and Physicist Bruno Benedetto Rossi among others. The stunning green and white marble exterior will no doubt attract you to visit as well if you decide to meander up to the Pizzale Michelangelo. It is worth it!
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bill B
Pueblo, CO1,416 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
My partner and I visited the is a Basilica which stands at one of the highest points in Florence. From all we read before the visit it is described as one of the finest Romanesque structures in Tuscany and I would have to agree. It has to also be one of the most scenic churches in Italy as the views are incredible. The mosaic depicting St. Miniato to the right of Christ holding a crown is stunning.
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Madeline
Oxford, UK29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
We sat in the garden below the church in a little field of daisies. We spent hours here eating strawberries, chatting, napping and listening to music. This is FREE (that is for you college students) and was probably one of the best things I did on my whole vacation.
Written April 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bourlingueur
Albany, NY638 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
San Miniato is one of my favorite places in Florence. It is beautiful and it is a real, spiritual place. They do not charge an admission fee! It was built 1000 years ago and it did not receive a redo during the Renaissance. It is similar to the beautiful Duomo in Fiesole. The Olivetan Benedictine Monks do some of the daily office publicly here. We attended vespers and Mass on a Sunday evening. The priest sang beautifully. Most of the Mass was in Latin, but the readings were in Italian.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marla7
Naas, Ireland832 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
San Miniato al Monte is one of my favourite places in Florence. I was obsessed with it even before seeing it in person, and I sometimes even dream of it! It's a beautiful building with a unique atmosphere and from the outside you get amazing views of Florence. It's only a few minutes walk from Piazzale Michelangelo so make sure you go up if you've already made that climb. Entrance is also free, and it is rarely crowded.
Written September 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

888anjup
Palo Alto, United States173 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Couples
Beautiful and serene church and amazing view of Florence from the top. It’s a bit of climb but totally worth it. We went on Sunday morning (Nov 27) as our friends from Florence highly recommended the Gregorian chanting at San Miniato and the website said it was on Sundays at 10 am. It turned out there was no chanting that morning but we ended up attending the morning service which was beautiful. After that, we asked the priest who conducted the lovely service about the chanting and he said it was every evening at 5.30 pm. So we want back yesterday (Nov 29) at 5.30 pm and again there was no chanting. I am guessing it’s off season/ holiday period for them too but I wish they would not give incorrect info on their website and in person. Many others had also made the uphill climb in the cold weather for the evening chanting and were disappointed.
Written November 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,986 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Solo
The name of one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Italy consists of the name of the patron saint of the city and the location - "al Monte" - this is on the mountain. The story of San Miniato (Saint Minias) is somewhat traditional. either an Armenian prince or a Greek merchant, greedy and inhuman, suddenly became spiritually transformed and became a hermit. During the time of Emperor Decius, he was put on the list for an exemplary execution, but wild animals refused to eat him (he was exhausted after many years of fasting), but the fire did not take Minias. Then his head is traditionally cut off, he takes the severed head, swims across the Arno (!), without losing his head, and climbs into his native cave on the mountain, where the church now stands. The story is the same as the saga of Saint-Denis, which from Montmartre reached the current suburb of Paris Saint-Denis with the tomb of the French kings. Until the time when the center of Florence began to be transformed by such titans of the Renaissance as Giotto, Brunelleschi and other Michelangelos, the most beautiful church in Florence was located on the mountain, and it was San Miniato al Monte! True, climbing the stairs that Dante once climbed, you will see that the only thing that spoils the church is that same disproportionate staircase, remade by Giuseppe Poggi much later than the author of the Divine Comedy. The beauty of the façade is ensured by its precise proportionality: the lower tier is two squares, the upper tier is one in the middle. This is how children build pyramids from cubes. But the Romanesque style is simplicity. The aesthetic impact is enhanced by the two-color facade - only two colors of marble were used in the decoration. San Miniato enjoyed such authority that none of the architects dared to make any changes to it. It's almost authentic. Only the lower tier was redone in the 16th century in the style of Brunelleschi - in the form of a false arcade with five arches. If you look up, you see on the pediment not a traditional crucifix, but an eagle with a roll of fabric. This is a subtle reminder that San Miniato has been financed since 1288 by the Arte di Calimala, the guild of cloth merchants. It is not surprising that capitalism originated here.. The topology of the temple is unusual - it does not have a transept, and therefore a traditional Latin cross at the base. Unfortunately, I was not able to examine the inside of the church, except for the altar mosaics; there was a funeral service going on there. The main thing that was not possible to see was the chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal with the tombstone of the cardinal by Bernardo Rossellino and the majolica of Luca della Robbia. But you will be luckier!
Google
Written May 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AnaEvergreen
Colorado1,806 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Solo
I have a thing for visiting old cemeteries, and the cemetery adjacent to the Basilica di San Miniato is the oldest in Florence. The Basilica is also lovely, and the views from there of Florence are WAY better than the views from Piazzale di Michelangelo, mostly because it is so much more peaceful and less crowded. (Piazzale di Michelangelo is basically a car park, where all the tour buses stop and it is very commercialized with vendors all around). If you want the lovely view of Florence (and want to see a lovely cathedral), head up to Basilica di Miniato al Monte. This was my favourite venue in Florence.
Written May 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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