Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Two-Hour Walk to San Miniato al Monte
This walk takes you from the centre of Florence to the
exquisitely decorated church of San Miniato al Monte
high on a hill in the south of the city. The route follows
quiet lanes along the city walls, and then takes in the
bustling Piazzale Michelangelo, packed with souvenir
stalls, before returning to the town centre.
a stretch of city walls (to the
left) dating from 1258. Porta
San Miniato
7
, a small arch
in the wall, is situated at the
bottom of the hill.
San Miniato al Monte
Turn right into Via del Monte
alle Croci and walk uphill
for 500 m (550 yds) to the
Viale Galileo Galilei. Bear
right and cross the road
to the vast stone steps
leading to the terrace in
front of San Miniato al
Monte
8
. Catch your
breath and admire
the view of the
Forte di Belvedere.
San Miniato al Monte
is one of the most
unspoiled of all the
Romanesque churches
in Tuscany. It was built
in 1018 over the shrine
of the early Christian
martyr, San Miniato (St
Minias). He was a rich
Armenian merchant be-
headed for his beliefs by
Emperor Decius in the 3rd
century. The façade was
begun around 1090 and has
geometric patterning in green-
grey and white marble, typical
of the Romanesque style. The
statue on the gable shows an
eagle carrying a bale of cloth,
the symbol of the powerful
Arte di Calimala (guild of wool
The façade of San Miniato
al Monte
8
Ponte Vecchio
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No. 19 Costa di San Giorgio
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From the Ponte Vecchio
1
walk south down Via de'
Guicciardini and take the
second turning left into the
square fronting Santa Felicità
2
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. On the left of the church,
take the steep road to the
right, Costa di San Giorgio. No.
19
3
was once the home of
Galileo. The Porta San Giorgio
(St George's Gate)
4
is straight
ahead at the end of the lane.
Built in 1260, this is the
oldest city gate to survive in
Florence. The weathered fresco
within the arch is
The Virgin
with St George and St Leonard
by Bicci di Lorenzo (1460).
On the outer face of the arch
is a carving of St George
fighting the dragon, a copy of
the original 1284 work, which
has been removed and is
currently being restored.
The Forte di Belvedere
5
is to the right through the
gate, and was designed by
Bernardo Buontalenti in 1590.
Originally the fortress was
built to guard the city against
attack from its political rivals,
but it soon became a private
refuge for the Medici Grand
Dukes. From here there are
extensive views over the
Boboli Gardens
6
below,
and across to the olive groves
and cypress trees in the
countryside south of the city.
Head downhill along Via di
Belvedere, which runs along
Porta San
Giorgio
View across to San Miniato al Monte from Forte di Belvedere
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