Florence’s Silent Stories

Perched above Florence on the hill of San Miniato al Monte, the Porte Sante Cemetery offers one of the most striking views of the city. It is also an open-air museum, rich in artworks and fascinating stories. You’ll walk through its monumental grounds, where over 150 years of history are carved in Carrara marble, and see family chapels echoing Florence’s greatest churches. As you move among the tombs, Claudia will share the lives of those who rest here. Some are well-known figures, like Carlo Collodi, author of Pinocchio. Others are lesser-known but had lives that deserve to be remembered, with stories that reveal the spirit of their times. The cemetery becomes a lens to explore the ideals, artistry, and aspirations of Florentine society. You’ll end the walk inside the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, a medieval jewel that crowns the city. One of Florence’s oldest churches, it’s a Romanesque masterpiece filled with mosaics, frescoes, and solemn beauty.

This experience blends art, history, and sweeping views in a setting that few visitors explore in depth. The Porte Sante Cemetery offers a unique atmosphere where each monument tells a story of Florentine culture and craftsmanship, inviting a deep and thoughtful exploration of the city’s rich legacy and evolving identity. Walking through the cemetery is a walk through time—where 19th- and 20th-century Florence is carved in marble and memory, from artists and architects to political figures and everyday citizens. Claudia knows this place intimately. With years of focused research and a deep passion for funerary art, she brings history to life. Author of two books, she reveals hidden layers—obscure sculptors, private commissions, and symbolic details most guides overlook. The experience concludes inside the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, a Romanesque masterpiece above the city. Its stillness and grandeur offer a contemplative end, connecting Florence’s past with its enduring spirit.

Claudia Vannucci is a licensed tour guide based in Florence, where she has been sharing her knowledge and passion for over ten years. She lives and breathes her city every day, bringing its stories to life through a unique mix of historical insight and personal connection. Alongside her work as a guide, Claudia is also an architecture historian and travel writer, with a special interest in how stories and memories are rooted in place. One of her deepest passions is the study of cemeteries—a subject she has researched for years and written two books about. With a curious mind and a storyteller’s spirit, Claudia delights in discussing everything from Renaissance art to Florentine cuisine, with occasional detours into the world of horror movies and true crime.

Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately to enter a Catholic church (cover your knees and shoulders).