Florence Review
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  • Things to see in Florence
    • Religious Buildings of Florence >
      • Basilicas of Florence >
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        • Basilica di Santa Croce
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Basilica di Santa Croce​

Basilica  di  Santa  Croce


The Basilica di Santa Croce is not only one of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in Italy, but also the largest Franciscan church in the world. The current building replaced an oratory that was first built by the Community of Franciscan Friars in 1226, in works that were led by Arnolfo di Cambio who also designed Florence Cathedral. The construction was completed in 1385 and the church was consecrated in 1443. Its exterior remained unchanged for four centuries, until 1857 when the current neo-Gothic frontage was replaced with a design by architect Niccolò Matas. The construction of the impressive white, green and pink Carrara marble façade was promoted by the Englishman Sir Francis Sloane, who made an initial contribution of 20,000 of the 580,000 scudi that finally were needed to begin the works.

The wonders of this Basilica are not restricted solely to its exterior; Santa Croce shelters some of the city's most impressive frescoes of the fourteenth century. Not to be missed are Giotto's works in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels (that illustrate scenes from the life of St. Francis and St. John the Evangelist) and Gaddi’s works in the main cloister (scenes from the Legend of the True Cross). This cloister also houses the Pazzi Chapel, another treasure of the legacy of Filippo Brunelleschi (who is especially known for the dome of the Florence Cathedral).

Santa Croce first housed the graves of the families that lived in the district but in the fifteenth century it became the burial place of some of history's most illustrious Italians, accounting for its moniker "Temple of the Italian Glories" (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie). Among the long list of historical figures interred here are Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo and Niccolò Machiavelli. It's also the resting place of politicians such as Leonardo Bruni and Carlo Marsuppini, Italian Supreme Chancellors. From the nineteenth century it also became a pantheon of artists, musicians and writers such as the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Giovanni Gentile and the composer Gioachino Rossini. 

There are dozens of tombs with remarkable stories including the one belonging to Giovanni Battista Niccolini. Entering the
basilica, on the left the tomb of the famous playwright can be easily found with its sculpture by Pio Fedi, extremely similar to the Statue of Liberty. This resemblance has led many observers think this is not just a coincidence but a plagiarism case. There are many reasons to think that at the very least Fedi’s statue was an inspiration for the design of New York's iconic statue as its designer Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was in Italy when work started on the monument in Santa Croce. 

​​Opening-times: 

Monday to Saturday: 09:30 - 17:30 (last admission at 17:00)
Sundays and Public Holidays: (January 6, August 15,November 1, December 8): 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm (last admission is at 5:00 pm)

The Cathedral is closed on: January 1, Easter Sunday, June 13 (Saint Anthony), October 4 (Saint Francis), December 25-26.
Prices: ​​​
​
​Adults: €8
Children under 17 years: €4
​Audio guide: €1.50


The ticket also gives access to the Monumental Complex (Basilica, Cloisters and Museo dell'Opera del Duomo) ​
Category: Basilicas of Florence

Built: 1296

Architectural style: Gothic

Area: Santa Croce

Close by: Pazzi Chapel, Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce

Walking distance from Piazza del Duomo: ​10 minutes

Basilica di Santa Croce Official Website (in English)


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Florence Review is part of the Italy Review network of websites, aimed at making life easier for English-speaking people travelling throughout Italy.
For advice on other locations in Italy please visit my websites below:
Ischia Review
Abruzzo Review
Capri Island Review
Veneto Review
Sorrento Review
Procida Review
Amalfi Coast Review
Basilicata Review

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  • Things to see in Florence
    • Religious Buildings of Florence >
      • Basilicas of Florence >
        • Florence Cathedral
        • Basilica di Santa Croce
        • Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
        • Basilica di San Lorenzo
        • Basilica di Santo Spirito
        • Basilica di San Miniato al Monte
        • Basilica di San Marco
        • Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine
        • Basilica della Santissima Annunziata
        • Basilica di Santa Trinita
      • Churches of Florence >
        • Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti
        • Chiesa di Orsanmichele
        • Chiesa di San Frediano in Cestello
        • Chiesa della Badia
        • Chiesa di San Filippo Neri
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      • Florence Baptistery
      • Great Synagogue of Florence
      • Pazzi Chapel
    • Museums & Art Galleries of Florence >
      • Museums of Florence >
        • Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
        • Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce
        • Palazzo Vecchio
        • Palazzo Pitti
        • Stibbert Museum
        • Museo Galileo
        • Forte di Belvedere
        • La Specola (Museum of Zoology & Natural History)
        • National Archaeological Museum of Florence
      • Art Galleries of Florence >
        • Uffizi Gallery
        • Galleria dell'Accademia
        • Bargello National Museum
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        • Palazzo Strozzi
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    • Landmarks of Florence >
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        • Giotto's Bell Tower
        • Palazzo Vecchio Tower (Arnolfo's Tower)
        • Tower of San Niccolo
        • Torre della Zecca
        • Torre dei Marsili
      • Monuments of Florence >
        • Statue of David
        • Loggia dei Lanzi (Loggia della Signoria)
        • Fountain of Neptune
        • Arco di Trionfo dei Lorena
      • Famous Palazzi of Florence >
        • Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale
        • Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali
        • Palazzo Strozzi di Mantova
        • Universita degli Studi di Firenze
        • Palazzo dell'Arte della Lana
        • Accademia della Crusca
      • Brunelleschi's Dome
      • Vasari Corridor
      • Santa Maria Novella Station
      • Scalea del Monte alle Croci
      • River Arno
      • Fortezza Da Basso
    • Squares of Florence >
      • Piazza della Signoria
      • Piazza del Duomo
      • Piazzale Michelangelo
      • Piazza della Repubblica
      • Piazza Santa Croce
      • Piazza Santo Spirito
      • Piazza Santa Maria Novella
      • Piazza San Lorenzo
    • Bridges of Florence >
      • Ponte Vecchio
      • Ponte alle Grazie
      • Ponte Santa Trinita
      • Ponte alla Carraia
      • Ponte alla Vittoria
      • Ponte Amerigo Vespucci
      • Ponte San Niccolo
    • Gardens of Florence >
      • Boboli Gardens
      • Giardino Bardini
      • Giardino delle Rose
      • Giardino dell'Orticoltura
      • Giardino del Museo Stibbert
      • Medici Villa della Petraia
    • Markets of Florence >
      • San Lorenzo Market
      • Sant'Ambrogio Market
      • Loggia del Mercato Nuovo
      • Mercato Centrale
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      • Porta San Miniato
      • Porta San Gallo
      • Porta di San Frediano
      • Porta al Prato
      • Porta Romana
  • Florence Hotels
  • Florence
    • Areas of Florence >
      • Duomo
      • Signoria
      • Belvedere
      • Santo Spirito
      • Santa Croce
      • Santa Trinita
      • San Niccolo
      • San Frediano
      • San Lorenzo
      • San Marco
      • Santa Maria Novella
      • San Marco Vecchio
    • Famous Streets of Florence >
      • Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci
      • Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia
      • Lungarno delle Grazie
      • Via Calimala
      • Via dei Calzaiuoli
      • Via di San Niccolo
      • Via Roma
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    • Best Views of Florence