Fiesole - Sant'Alessandro

Between the Bishop's Palace and seminary buildings in Fiesole a steep track climbs up to two small churches and a tree-shaded terrace with a magnificent view out over Florence. The little park contains monuments to the Fallen of World War II, and to three Carabinieri killed by the National Socialists in 1944.

Above the terrace stands the Church of Sant'Alessandro, probably founded as early as the third century. Originally San Pietro in Gerusalemme, it is dedicated to Bishop Alexander of Fiesole. It occupies the site of an old Etruscan temple which was later replaced by a Roman temple of Bacchus. At the beginning of the sixth century Theodoric the Great is said to have converted the building into a Christian church which in the course of time was refashioned on several occasions.