Discover the curious history of the Basilica di Santa Croce Florence! Find out why they call it the Temple of the Glories of Italy, what masterpieces are under its roof and which famous Italians found their final resting place within its walls. To get the most out of your visit to the Santa Croce church and listen to the stories and legends that surround it, book our Santa Croce tour and explore the sight in a company of a licensed expert guide.
Prices for Infant from 0-6 years old: free of charge
Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure
A student must carry ID to join the tour of Santa Croce in Florence
Our Santa Croce Florence Guided Tour provides you with an expertly guided experience of the Basilica from the 15th century. It helps you to discover the long a winding history of the largest Franciscan church in the world. Plus, you will get to visit the final resting places of Dante, Michelangelo, Galileo, and Donatello. Moreover, you will get to see the exquisite ornate chapels as well as the restored church cemetery.
The Basilica of Santa Croce was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1294 and stood completed in 1385. If you are curious about the name, the basilica owes it to the Holy Cross (santa croce) donated by King Louis of France. In fact, it was the inspiration behind building the church.
Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence used to be the base of the Franciscan order. They were famous for their mass preaching in the Piazza Santa Croce during the Middle Ages. Their sole goal was to fight heresy which was very popular among peasants.
Besides all that, the Franciscan church of Santa Croce has been serving as a mausoleum for the most important politicians, artists, philosophers, writers and scientists in Italy. In case you ever wondered where is Dante buried, Santa Croce is the right place to visit. In its interior, you can come across Michelangelo’s, Galileo’s and even Dante’s tomb.
From a more artistic perspective, the basilica is famous for its amazing richly frescoed chapels such a Giotto's murals portraying John the Baptist in the Cappella Peruzzi or the scenes from the life St Francis of Assisi. However, among all the works housed in the Basilica, the most important is the Crucifix by Donatello- a unique wooden work.
The museum opened in 1959 in the spaces initially occupied by the convent. Since then, it has both suffered a recovered from the massive damage caused by the Florence flood in 1966. Today, it’s home to beautiful works of art typical from the Florentine school.
If you care to dig deeper into Florence’s soul, Santa Croce Florence guided tour is the way to go. Book your tickets today!