San Miniato al Monte reopens after 18-month restoration project

An 18-month restoration and structural safety project at Florence’s Basilica of San Miniato al Monte has been completed, with the hilltop church remaining open to visitors throughout the works.

The intervention, financed by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), involved the basilica, bell tower and roofing system of the abbey complex. The works were carried out by the State Property Agency in collaboration with Florence’s cultural heritage authority, with a total investment of €3.6 million.

The completion of the project was marked on Wednesday with a public ceremony and a performance by the children’s choir Piccolo Coro Melograno.

Perched above Florence on one of the city’s most recognisable panoramic points, San Miniato al Monte is considered one of Tuscany’s most important Romanesque churches. The abbey is also known for its distinctive white-and-green marble façade overlooking the city skyline.

Structural works and restoration

The restoration focused on the basilica’s façade, the bell tower’s stone surfaces and the roofs, alongside structural consolidation work on walls and columns.

According to project information released for the reopening, the interventions included cleaning and conservation of marble surfaces, mosaics and sculptural details, repairs to damaged masonry and seismic improvement measures designed to strengthen the historic complex while preserving its original structure.

Inspections on the basilica’s wooden roof trusses revealed structural weaknesses that required reinforcement work. Technicians also installed steel tie rods and monitoring systems to improve long-term stability, particularly on the north side of the church near the bell tower, where gradual structural movement had already been documented over the centuries.

Work on the bell tower included securing sections of the external stone cladding and reinforcing cracked vaulted areas.

One of the most visible restoration projects involved the gilded eagle at the top of the façade pediment, which was removed, restored in a workshop and treated against corrosion before being returned to its original position.

Basilica remained open during the works

Despite the scale of the construction site, the abbey remained accessible throughout the 18 months of restoration. Transparent coverings on the scaffolding allowed the façade to stay visible, while guided visits were organised so visitors could observe parts of the restoration work from close range.

Officials described the project as part of a broader programme aimed at preserving public historic buildings in Florence and improving their long-term safety.

Video mapping on the façade

To mark the completion of the works, the façade of San Miniato al Monte will host a large-scale video mapping installation until the morning of 11 May 2026.

The projections will run nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., transforming the basilica façade with animated images retracing the history, construction and architectural evolution of the church.

The visual installation uses the marble geometry of the façade as part of the projection itself, combining light effects and digital animation to recreate different phases in the history of the monument and highlight details of its Romanesque decoration.

The event is expected to be visible from several points across Florence, particularly from the historic centre and surrounding hills.

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