San Miniato a Monte - Solstice Meridian
The Basilica of San Miniato al Monte is one of the oldest churches in Florence: its construction began in 1018 by the Bishop Hildebrand who wanted to celebrate St. Minias, the patron Saint of the city. The Basilica is one of the finest examples of Romanesque in Tuscany and presents intriguing astronomical and symbolic allusions that, however, largely remain undiscovered.
This church is also characterized by an intriguing religious and solar symbolism and complex astronomical allusions that are related to architectural and decorative details, which make this monument unique in its genre.
At the summer solstice a fascinating light phenomenon occurs: the sunlight perfectly illuminates the Cancer sign, thereby confirming the astronomical function of the marble zodiac.
During the Easter period, when the two sunbeams precisely illuminate the figures of Christ and the Virgin Mary. The figure of Christ the Pantocrator flooded with light reminds us of the resurrection and the victory of light over darkness.
Simone Bartolini is an astronomer and cartographer who recently (around 2011) figured out that the marble zodiac on the floor of San Miniato Church in Florence, is in fact a solstice meridian. Having discovered the astrological function of this zodiac, it can now be said that this is the oldest solstice sundial in working order in Europe.
