Please sign in to post.

Vespers at San Miniato al Monte

I will be in Florence the last week of May. I believe that vespers will be chanted at San Miniato al Monte at 6:30 pm. Does anyone know if the hours change during summer and if so when that change would occur?

My husband and I went to this a few years ago in June. We went on a Tues. or Wed. night. We looked up the hours in the RS guidebook. It was Mass chanted in Latin by one priest and a couple of brothers. My husband is a good singer and chanted along. Mass is held in the lower level behind the main altar. There are steps that lead down. This is where St. Miniato's tomb is. The space is acoustically live. You can hear a pin drop. So, once you are seated - it's hard to leave without disturbing others. It is not the whole monastery in a choir stall, chanting the hours. It's a Mass offered for travelers.

Posted by
16742 posts

Joni, this is what their website, which is only in Italian, states (google translated):

"On Sundays and holidays Eucharistic celebrations are at 8.30, 10.00, 11.30 and 17.30. The celebration of 17.30 is totally Latin and in Gregorian chant. On weekdays, the monastic community celebrates the Eucharist at 7.15am and 5.30pm, both in Latin and in Gregorian chant."

http://www.sanminiatoalmonte.it/orari-messa

I don't believe these times change during the year. It's the Eucharist which is open to worshipers, and those with Gregorian chant which are so ethereal. :O)

Posted by
213 posts

Thanks - I saw the Mass times and then the vespers listed - given your info I am assuming that they celebrate Mass and then chant vespers. I will make sure I am there early enough for both.

When we were there - it was only Mass. The Mass is a Latin Mass which uses the Gregorian Chant propers assigned for that Mass. In other words, Gregorian Chant is done during the Mass. It's all in Latin. Don't expect vespers. Vespers is evening prayer - liturgy of the hours. This was not available to the public when we were there. I would just expect Messe or Mass with one priest and 1-2 brothers. You can participate fully in the Mass, if you are familiar with Latin chant.

Posted by
213 posts

Thanks for the clarification. Is the Mass in the Extraordinary Form or the Ordinary Form?

It was the ordinary form of Mass - just in Latin. We found it meaningful. I enjoyed my husband's chanting, singing skills. Unfortunately, he will not be there when you are. The atmosphere was a good experience. The religious order that "runs" San Miniato provides Mass to travelers as a form of service and hospitality. There were only a handful of people at the Mass. I think many don't go because it's in Latin, close to dinner time, and a bit of a hike up the hill. San Miniato is a great Florentine site, but it's off the beaten path. It's a great church to visit if you can handle the hill and the steps. I believe the author of Pinocchio is buried in the cemetery on the church grounds.

Posted by
213 posts

Thanks Sun Baked - I agree I think San Miniato is an absolute gem that is missed by many visitors. The abbey is celebrating it 999th anniversary this year. Amazing!

Posted by
16742 posts

I believe the author of Pinocchio is buried in the cemetery on the church grounds.

He is: Carlo Lorenzini (pen name Carlo Collodi).

I spent quite a bit of time in the cemetery as it has some interesting tomb sculptures.