San Miniato al Monte

Coordinates: 43°45′35″N 11°15′53″E / 43.759758°N 11.264731°E / 43.759758; 11.264731
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
San Miniato al Monte
Style
Romanesque
Years built1018

San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain) is a

Olivetan monastery, seen to the right of the basilica when ascending the stairs.[1]

History

Cluniacs and then in 1373 to the Olivetans, who still run it. The monks make famous liqueurs, honey and herbal teas
, which they sell from a shop next to the church.

Interior

Santa Trìnita and is decorated with panels long thought to be painted by Agnolo Gaddi. The terracotta decoration of the vault is by Luca della Robbia
.

The crypt is the oldest part of the church and the high altar supposedly contains the bones of St Minias himself (although there is evidence that these were removed to Metz before the church was even built). In the vaults are frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi.

The raised choir and

presbytery contain a magnificent Romanesque pulpit and screen made in 1207. The apse is dominated by a great mosaic
of Christ between the Virgin and St Minias on its vaulted ceiling dating from 1297; the same subject is depicted on the façade of the church and is probably by the same unknown artist. The crucifix above the high altar is attributed to Luca della Robbia. The
St Benedict by Spinello Aretino
(1387).

Cardinal of Portugal Chapel

The Cappella del Cardinale del Portogallo to the left of the nave, "one of the most magnificent funerary monuments of the Italian Renaissance",

James of Lusitania, who died in Florence, to which he was Portuguese ambassador, in 1459. It is the only tomb in the church. The chapel is a collaboration of outstanding artists of Florence: it was designed by Brunelleschi's associate, Antonio Manetti, and finished after his death by Antonio Rossellino. The tomb was made by Antonio and Bernardo Rossellino. The chapel decoration is by Alesso Baldovinetti, Antonio and Piero del Pollaiuolo
, and Luca della Robbia.

Exterior

The geometrically patterned marble façade was probably begun in about 1090, although the upper parts date from the 12th century or later, financed by the Florentine Arte di Calimala (cloth merchants’ guild), who were responsible for the church's upkeep from 1288. The eagle which crowns the façade was their symbol.

The

campanile collapsed in 1499 and was replaced in 1523, although it was never finished. During the siege of Florence in 1530 it was used as an artillery post by the defenders and Michelangelo
had it wrapped in mattresses to protect it from enemy fire.

Church complex

The Cemetery from the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte by Hans von Bartels.

Adjacent to the church is the fine

Bruno Benedetto Rossi, and film director and opera producer Franco Zeffirelli
.

Notable events

The basilica served as an important setting in Brian de Palma's 1976 film Obsession.

On 16 June 2012, it was the venue for the religious wedding of Dutch royal

Brenninkmeijer
.

See also

References

  1. ^ Borgi di Toscana: Basilica of san minato al Monte, Florence Archived July 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ISBN 978-1-4021-5933-6
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-520-21522-1
    .
  4. JSTOR 3046199
    .
  5. ^ According to the Strozzi papers that recorded excerpts of the lost accounts Saalman, Howard (December 1964). "Paolo Uccello at San Miniato". The Burlington Magazine. 106 (741): 558–563. quoting archival accounts.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to San Miniato al Monte.

43°45′35″N 11°15′53″E / 43.759758°N 11.264731°E / 43.759758; 11.264731

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