San Miniato al Monte

Minas, or Minias, according to legend, was an Armenian prince (in another version, a Greek merchant), initially wealthy, cruel, and extravagant. In 271 AD, he converted to Christianity and retired to a cave on the mountain to spend his years in prayer. The Emperor did not like such a change in lifestyle, and by his order, Minias was martyred, making him the first Florentine saint martyr in history. He was buried on that very mountain, and in the 11th century, the city authorities built a church in honor of this famous hermit, naming it San Miniato al Monte.

The construction of the church began in 1018 under Bishop Alibrando. The church belonged to a female monastery of the Benedictine order. In 1373, the church and monastery came under the management of the male monastery of the Olivetan branch of the Benedictine order "Monte Oliveto”. Monks live there to this day.

The monastery complex includes a basilica with a 16th-century bell tower, unfinished and damaged during the siege of Florence in 1530, the former summer residence of the Bishops of Florence (Episcopal Palace on the right side of the church, 1295—1320), a hospital, fortification structures, and a memorial cemetery.

In 1875, a magnificent staircase made of white marble appeared next to the Basilica of Saint Minias, the work of the famous architect Giuseppe Poggi.

The exterior of the Basilica of Saint Minias is characterized by beauty and harmonious architecture. It has three naves and combines different styles and elements. The facade of the basilica is a typical example of Romanesque-Florentine style. Marble slabs of white and dark green are arranged in a geometric pattern. The lower level of the basilica consists of five semi-circular arches — three of which have doorways. On the upper tier, there is a rectangular window, decor in the form of geometric figures, and a 12th-century mosaic "Christ between the Madonna and Saint Minias". The top of the basilica is adorned with a copper figure of an eagle, which is the symbol of the wool traders' guild that funded the construction.

Inside, the walls of the Basilica of Saint Minias are clad in white and green marble — just like the exterior. On both sides of the hall, elegant Corinthian columns rise. The floor of the central nave is covered with a marble mosaic featuring the signs of the Zodiac and animals. On some walls, frescoes from the 13th-14th centuries are partially preserved. The ceiling of the main nave is decorated with bright plant ornaments in the Tuscan style.

In the lower part of the central nave, there is an altar where the relics of the saint are kept. On both sides, there are stairs leading to the oldest corner of the church — the 11th-century crypt. It is surrounded by a wrought iron grille, and the vaults display remnants of frescoes created by Taddeo Gaddi. Most of the images in the basilica were made by this artist and date from 1340–1342.

In addition, in the basilica, it is worth looking at the Crucifixion Chapel, built according to the project of Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, the Sacristy with frescoes of scenes from the legend of Saint Benedict, and an outstanding monument of architecture of the Italian Renaissance — the Chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal, also known as the Chapel of Saint James. The interior decoration was undertaken by the Florentine architect and mathematician Antonio Manetti, and the decoration by the local quattrocento sculptor Luca della Robbia.

Adjacent to the Basilica of Saint Minias are a hospital, fortification structures, an ancient monastery built in the 15th century, and a cemetery where famous Italian artists and art figures rest.