Church
Basilica of Santa Croce
- Florence
- 1.5–2 hours
- 1 experience to book
Franciscan basilica with the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, Giotto's frescoes and Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel.
Things to do at Basilica of Santa Croce
About Basilica of Santa Croce
Begun in 1294 for the Franciscan friars, Santa Croce became the church where Florence honours its great names. Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and Rossini are buried here, and Dante has a memorial; his tomb is in Ravenna.
In the chapels beside the high altar, Giotto painted the lives of St Francis and the two St Johns. The Bardi Chapel frescoes were presented in September 2026 after four years of restoration. Off the cloister, Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel is a study in Renaissance proportion.
Know before you go
- Shoulders and knees must be covered; free disposable cover-ups are offered.
- The visitor entrance and left luggage are in Largo Bargellini, on the north side.
- Some raised chapels, the refectory and the Pazzi Chapel involve steps.
- On free-entry feast days only the basilica opens, from 14:00.
- It's a working church: keep voices low and phones on silent.