The Unmissable Climb to San Miniato

The unmissable climb to San Miniato I go to Florence fairly often, as it is my hometown. Every time, whether under the scorching July sun or the November drizzle, an unmissable destination is the climb to the church of San Miniato al Monte, 'that gives through the eyes a sweetness to the heart, which no one can understand who has not felt it'. The basilica, whose construction dates back to the 11th century, stands a few steps from Piazzale Michelangelo, on the Mons Fiorentinus, the place where the Christian martyr Miniato is said to have arrived after being beheaded, carrying his head in his hands. The slow climb up the great staircase leading to the church always has something solemn about it; on one side the marble façade emerging in all its Romanesque splendour, on the other the sinuous curves of the city taking shape in a combination that makes your head spin.

Just below the basilica is the Porte Sante cemetery, where, among others, the remains of prominent figures such as Giovanni Spadolini rest. The sculptures that make up the funeral monuments stand out against the panorama of the city, conveying a feeling of silence and recollection. At the top of the climb, the church façade with its geometric two-tone scheme of white marble and green serpentine is truly impressive; the purity and delicacy of the marble is of infinite beauty. The interior of the basilica is grand and quite original; the inlaid floors of the 1200s stand out, in particular 'the Zodiac', the painted wooden ceilings, the apse with the mosaic of Christ the Blessing, the crypt where the relics of San Miniato are kept, the cycle of frescoes by Spinello Aretino and everywhere white and green marble.

The light that filters through the narrow windows often creates evocative effects. It is interesting to note how the church is rich in decorative elements that recall ancient symbols, such as the flower of life, the triquetra, the four-spoked wheel and others still, present both on the façade and inside. In the square in front of the church there is a small shop where you can buy the products of the Olivetan monks, such as honey, herbal teas, liqueurs as well as remedies for physical ailments, books and more. Once the visit is over, you can sit on the low wall and let yourself be enveloped by the spell of that viewpoint, especially just after sunset, when the pink sky tends ever more towards blue and the lights of the city slowly come on.