Chiesa di San Miniato al Monte

Miniato was an early Christian martyr who, after his beheading in central Florence, walked up to this hillside spot with his severed head tucked under his arm. It’s easy to see why he chose this as his final resting place – the views across Florence are spectacular. So is the church itself. Begun in the early 11th century, it’s a marvel of Tuscan Romanesque with its geometric marble facade, Byzantine-style mosaics, floors paved in beautiful patterns, and duplex-style choir raised above an even older and more atmospheric crypt. The church also has frescoes by Agnolo Gaddi, a terracotta sculpture by Luca della Robbia and a free-standing chapel by Michelozzo. Come around 4.30pm (in winter) or 5.30pm (summer) and you may hear the monks’ Gregorian chant wafting up from the crypt. Bus 13 from Santa Maria Novella station stops nearby.