Overview
Begun in 1294, Santa Croce is the world's largest Franciscan basilica and is known as Italy's 'Temple of the Glories.' It holds the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, composer Rossini, and a cenotaph for Dante (whose actual grave is in Ravenna). Highlights include 14th-century Giotto and Gaddi frescoes, Donatello's crucifix, and Brunelleschi's elegant Pazzi Chapel. The 19th-century neo-Gothic marble facade is another iconic Florentine view. Admission about EUR 8. 10-minute walk from the Duomo.
Opening Hours
09:30-17:30 (Sundays 12:30-17:30)
Travel Tips
The museum holds Cimabue's famous Crucifix restored after the 1966 flood. Don't miss the leather school next door for Tuscan craftsmanship.
Hotels near Basilica of Santa Croce
Hotels and guesthouses in Florence, Centro Storico, Florence
Other attractions in Florence
Uffizi Gallery
A world-class museum brimming with Renaissance masterpieces, including Botticelli's Birth of Venus.
Florence Duomo
The cathedral whose Brunelleschi-designed red dome dominates Florence's skyline.
Piazzale Michelangelo
A hilltop terrace offering the most iconic panoramic view of Florence, especially at sunset.
Ponte Vecchio
The medieval bridge across the Arno, its sides lined with goldsmiths' shops - a Florence icon.
Galleria dell'Accademia (David)
The museum housing Michelangelo's original David statue.
Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens
The Medici family's grand Renaissance palace and the prototype of the Italian formal garden.
Palazzo Vecchio & Piazza della Signoria
Florence's town hall and an open-air sculpture gallery anchored by a David replica.