Monks Chanting in Florence

Are you referring to San Miniato al Monte? Their website has the times listed: https://www.san-miniato-al-monte.com/

Yes, that is what I am referring to. So I’m guessing they won’t be doing it Saturday? And since they only mention Summer and Winter hours without going any further, do you think late October would be considered winter?

I can’t help with San Miniato, but if you can’t attend there, you might be interested in Badia Fiorentina in the historic center - it’s on Via Proconsolo across from the entrance to the Bargello. The monks and nuns of the Monastic Fraternity of Jerusalem chant the Liturgy of the Hours together, in Italian, a cappella in 4-part harmony. On Saturdays, they chant Lauds at 8 am and Vespers at 6 pm per their website. Psalter books are available at the back of the church for you to follow along if you like.

I was in Florence last month and loved attending the Liturgy of the Hours at Badia Fiorentina.

Have a good trip!

I was just looking at this because I'm planning to visit San Miniato next week. If I'm reading the information posted on the monastery website (https://www.sanminiatoalmonte.it/contatti/), vespers are every day at 6:30pm.

Opening hours of the Basilica
Monday-Saturday 9: 30-13: 00; 15: 00-19: 00
Sunday 8: 15-13: 00; 15: 00-19: 00

During the liturgical celebrations the Basilica cannot be visited.

Admission is free and reservations are not required for individual visitors, groups or school trips

Times of the Eucharistic celebrations
Sundays and holidays: 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am and 5:30 pm
The celebration of 5:30 pm is in Latin and Gregorian chant

Weekdays: 6pm , in Latin and Gregorian chant

Every afternoon at 6.30 pm the monastic community celebrates vespers in Latin and Gregorian chant

San Miniato is also top of my list for my next visit to Florence - could not get it to work my first 2 times. But I also found Badia Fiorentina very interesting. I was there on a Sunday evening in 2015 in January - long and cold, but I really did not want to leave.

When we were there at San Miniato, they closed the gate to the limited seating area (behind the altar) before things started. And note it's their prayer time, not a performance, so be respectful.

I was able to attend service at San Miniato. The guards initially closed off the church I suppose while the regular attendees entered. Then they opened it up to those of us who wanted to attend rather than just tour through. We stood or sat along the back and side walls during the service and were of course, quiet and respectful. The monks began chanting immediately after the service. It is one of my favorite memories, spiritual and soothing. I'll definitely be doing it again when I return in December.

Tonight’s our last night in Florence… it’s going on 9PM at the moment. We were at San Miniato this afternoon, up until about 5PM. A sign on the front door, in Italian only, seems to have some of the same information as reported by Meghan above - Eucharist at 5:30PM, vespers with Canto Gregoriano at 6:30PM. No mention, though, of anything at 6:00PM.

We (unfortunately, now, I realize) didn’t go over to the church shop on the left side of the courtyard out in front of the church to ask for clarification.

We’d had a long day, and waiting up there until vespers at 6:30, then finding our way home in the dark after the service, and including dinner in there somewhere, and getting packed for departure tomorrow, that wasn’t going to work. Going downhill and then back up in time for vespers wasn’t going to be a viable option, either, so I can’t confirm whether you must go in at 5:30PM and wait ‘til the end of the service for the chanting, or can go in at, or near 6:30, or exactly when, and how. Appears, however, that chanting doesn’t currently occur on Saturdays.

For any who make it, I hope you have a wonderful experience.