You will find San Miniato al Monte above Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Florence. It is Florence’s only Romanesque church. I visited it recently to hear the monks do the Gregorian chant at vespers which was at 4:30 in the afternoon. The day was sunny and hot, but the church was cool and calm inside. The mass was held in the lower chapel leaving the main area opened for tourists.

To get to the church there are several flights of stairs so be prepared for that. Once at the top, you will be glad that you made the climb. The outside of the church is covered with geometric shapes of green and white marble. The church was built in the 11th century. There is a monastery attached to the church, where monks still live today. The gift shop there sells honey, soaps, liqueurs and other wares made by the monks.

Like all of the churches in Florence, you will find unbelievable Renaissance art by Gaddi, Michelozza, della Robbia, and a beautiful mosaic which was never finished supposedly was wrapped in mattresses by Michelangelo to protect it during the siege of Florence in 1530.