San Miniato - Medieval Church

San Miniato al Monte.
Photograph by Annie Bigelow

Last Sunday, I went to San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful medieval church that overlooks all of Florence. Built beginning in 1013, this medieval basilica is of the traditional longitudinal style, with a nave, choir and apse.

Interestingly, rather than being separated by a screen, the nave and choir are separated by a set of stairs on either side of the central aisle. So rather than having a screen and on step up to the choir, the choir and main altar are practically on a separate story of the church. This secondary level seems to symbolically underscore the separation of the priests and the laypeople as well as the priests’ role as go-between for God and His people.

The mosaic of Christ and the Evangelists over the main
altar of San Miniato. Photograph by Annie Bigelow

There is a practical component to these different levels as well. Below the main level of the church, next to the stairs that lead up to the choir and apse, there are two sets of stairs that lead down to another level of the church. Here you will find a secondary altar that appears to also act as the shrine to San Miniato (the church’s location was chosen based on the burial site and shrine). This secondary altar and space is currently used to smaller services, such as the Sunday evening Vespers.

San Miniato is a perfect example of the Italo-Byzantine style both in its adherence to the style and is a prime example of how the style can be manipulated to suit the needs of any given site and parish group.