Tourist attractions San Miniato

In the 11C castle of the Guidi Counts is a museum devoted to models (more than a hundred) of machines made following the drawing of this local genius.

These tombs date back to the 7C BC. The best preserved is the tomb de Montefortini , situated under a great wooden burial mound which is made up of an approach corridor, an entrance hall and a rectangular funerary chamber.

Grand duke Ferdinand 1 Medici commissioned this vast construction at the end of the 16th century. the villa stands on a grass-terrace dotted with metal structures and is distinguished by its large number of chimneys in an equally large number of styl..

This vast open space provides a backdrop to San Miniato's monuments, including the 12C cathedral whose belfry was the former castle's defensive tower, the 13C Bishop's Palace , former residence of the Signori Dodici (12 magistrates of the town), t..

Below the Prato del Duomo, the predominant feature of this palace is its concave façade adorned with frescoes and Latin aphorisms by the Fathers of the Church. The lower section contains partially preserved medieval shop fronts.

The high brick tower, which stands on top of the flattened hilltop, was rebuilt to resemble the original Frederick Barbarossa's Rocca castle that was destroyed during the last war. It is also said to have been the scene of bloody events, according to..

Behind the cathedral is the 17C Crucifix Chapel containing a 10C crucifix to which it owes name.

The building contains frescoes by Giotto's School, together with an unexpected small church, Chiesa del Loretino , which has a precious altar made of marquetry with gilding, painting and a tabernacle decorated by Lanfranco.

The church dates from 1194 but it was altered on several occasions and the façade was never finished. One of the chapels is home to the admirable tomb of Giovanni Chellini (humanist doctor), attributed to Bernardo Rossellino.

In a site full of sadness stands the presumed birthplace of the artist. Some 15C elements have been preserved (the chimney, the stone sink and the family shield in the main room). But it is the countryside of olive groves with silvery leaves, the o..

Immediately after the death of Vivaldo, a small chapel was built near the chestnut tree where his body was found. A church was built beside it in the 15C, whose first chapel contains St Vivaldo's body. Above the altar is a pleasant Nativity by Giov..

Between 1500 and 1520, the Franciscans built 33 chapels around their monastery, only 17 of which are still standing today. The chapels are miniature reproductions of the holy places in Jerusalem, and all contain superb painted terracotta pieces repre..

A Romanesque church, purported to have been founded by the countess Matilda in 1107, parts of which were built with materials from the Etruscan necropolis of Comeana . You will also notice some funerary urns, some of which are sculpted.

Set up in the basement of "la Ferdinanda", the museum unites materials unearthed in excavations of the old Etruscan settlement of Artiminio and including an acropolis which was probably situated on the hill where the villa stands. By lookin..