Monastery of San Miniato al Monte

Our next trip was to S. Miniato... another crazy-hard uphill climb. On the way, we passed by street artists. Unlike the trip to Fiesole however, a bus couldn't take us up even halfway... so we walked the whole distance from our arpartment on the North side of town all the way to the Arno, beyond the city walls and up to S. Minalto. Some say that the best view was from Fiesole, but I argue that the best was from here. This time the monks (Benedictine) did not chase us out, instead we were in for a treat--real Gregorian chants (in the monastery's crypt)!











We plan on making the trip back up the hill When the monastery's cemetery is open--our professor said that it would be well worth the look as it had been toughted as one of the most beautiful cemetaries in Europe. One of his previous students had even proposed there. One the way back down the hill we once again admired the view and stopped for a respite at the Rose Garden, a large exterior park were many people were picnicking and enjoying the sun. As it turns out, we were fortunate that we made a stop here, since the garden is only open when the roses are in bloom.