Walking Up to San Miniato al Monte

Went out early today to hike up to San Miniato al Monte. When the name of a church includes "al Monte", that's a hint. I'm not sure when the first stair was invented; probably around the time of the wheel. In any event, during the Eleventh Century when the Church of San Miniato al Monte was built, they were still in fashion. After walking up a steep street, one is greeted with the following flight:

 Which leads to...

However, the views higher up make the trek worth it.

That's the Palazzo Vecchio on the left, Giotto's Campanile near the center, the Duomo on the right and dark clouds above. Turning back to San Miniato al Monte, there are a few more stairs.

However, the climb has its rewards. The facade is in white and green marble, topped by a bronze eagle placed there in 1401 by one of Florence's guilds. At the behest of Michelangelo, during a 1530 seige of Florence the campanile, or bell tower, the top of which can be seen above over the church on the left, was wrapped with mattresses for protection from enemy fire. Here's the top of the facade.

The interior contains much beautiful mosaic work.  Below is just a glimpse; search on line for brighter pictures of the apse and altar. Gregorian Chant is sung here. 

Saint Minias was an Armenian Prince, an early Christian convert who was persecuted by the Roman Emperor Decius. Legend has it that Minias returned to his hermitage here following an unsuccessful attempt to feed him to a wild beast, which left him unharmed, and an ineffective decapitation, from which he miraculously recovered.
On the way back down I stopped at another church, San Salvatore al Monte. It's under the care of Franciscans, as one may have guessed simply observing the fine side entry doors.

Ciao.