After lunch, we ventured into nearby San Miniato. The old part of the town on top of the hill is very old, as in paleolithic. In "modern" times, the past 4,000 years, the town has been home to Etruscans, Romans and now modern day Italians. The upper town is well fortified with many walls, ramparts and gates still standing.
We enjoyed our tour around the town. Check it out.
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| The main square n San Miniato |
Inside the town walls is a hill that rises high above the town. Atop the hill is a tower built by Holy Roman Emperor Federico II. The tower was originally built in the 13th century for defense of the town and for controlling an important road in the valley below. During the German occupation in 1944, the German army destroyed the tower as the U.S. army moved northward in Italy. The tower could be seen from a very long distance and was therefore sort of an invitation for U.S. artillery to "aim here to attack us." Following the war, the tower was reconstructed.
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| The cathedral of San Miniato. The façade is not much to look at. |
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| Inside, the cathedral is beautiful. A photo of the ornate ceiling. |
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| The main window in the cathedral |
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| The altar and bishop's chair. |
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| The tower of the cathedral seen from the hill where the Federico II tower is situated. |
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| Looking west from the hill where the Federico II tower is situated. The small dark patch in the distance (top left) might be the stand of trees where we went truffle hunting. |
The Truffle Fair.
P.S. Are you wondering who was San Miniato? Well, he was one tough hombre. Here is a brief explanation borrowed from Wikipedia: "Saint Minias (Minas, Miniatus) (Italian: Miniato, Armenian: Մինաս) (3rd century) is venerated as the first Christian martyr of Florence. The church of San Miniato al Monte is dedicated to him. According to legend, he was an Armenian king or prince serving in the Roman Army – or making a penitential pilgrimage to Rome – who had decided to become a hermit near Florence. He was denounced as a Christian and in 250 AD brought before Emperor Decius, who was persecuting Christians. Miniato refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, and was put through numerous torments – he was thrown into a furnace, was lapidated, and was thrown to a lion or a panther at an amphitheater – from which he emerged unharmed. Finally, he was beheaded near the present Piazza della Signoria, but his legend states that he picked up his own head. Miniato then crossed the Arno river and returned to his hermitage on the hill known as Mons Fiorentinus (Monte di Firenze)."
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