Basilica di Santa Croce

Overview

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world and Florence's pantheon: Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini are all buried here. Its chapels contain frescoes by Giotto and Gaddi, and Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel is an early Renaissance masterpiece.

Highlights

• Michelangelo's tomb: Designed by Vasari, flanked by allegorical figures of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture.
• Giotto's Bardi Chapel frescoes: Scenes from the life of St. Francis—among the first naturalistic paintings in Western art.
• Pazzi Chapel: Brunelleschi's perfectly proportioned Renaissance gem in the cloister.

History

Traditionally attributed to St. Francis himself (1228), the current church was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1294. Its role as burial ground for Florence's greats earned it the nickname 'Temple of Italian Glories'.

Visitor Tips

• Entry: €8 includes basilica, museum, cloisters, and Pazzi Chapel.
• Leather School: Enter through the basilica's back for the Santa Croce leather workshop.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.