The burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, Basilica of Santa Croce holds the tombs of such luminaries as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini. The city's principal and the world's largest Franciscan church, the building was completed in 1385. The site's most notable features are its 16 chapels, many decorated with frescoes painted by Giotto and his pupils. The building's design reflects the austere approach favored by the Franciscans, with the floor plan following the figure of the Tau cross (the shape of the letter T), which was the symbol of St. Francis. The church's main cloister houses a simple, unadorned chapel designed by architect Filippo Brunelleschi. Choose from several guided tour options; advance reservations are required. General admission tickets can be purchased at the onsite ticket office, by phone, or online. Basilica of Santa Croce is just one of the many highlights you can arrange to see using our , world travel planner Edition.
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Basilica of Santa Croce reviews
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Beautiful outside. However, the price to enter was a bit steep and the line too long for our tired bodies. We've been in side dozens of old cathedrals, so we skipped this one. We were there on a...
Beautiful outside. However, the price to enter was a bit steep and the line too long for our tired bodies. We've been in side dozens of old cathedrals, so we skipped this one. We were there on a... more »
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What a wonderful basilica. Fair warning, it's a fair bit more expensive than most churches at 8 euros. In my experience in Italy, that's quite high and most churches allow you to enter for free and...
What a wonderful basilica. Fair warning, it's a fair bit more expensive than most churches at 8 euros. In my experience in Italy, that's quite high and most churches allow you to enter for free and... more »
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I was surprised how beautiful it is. All the paintings and graves of the greatest artist and thinkers. Last supper and tree of life you can see also there
I was surprised how beautiful it is. All the paintings and graves of the greatest artist and thinkers. Last supper and tree of life you can see also there more »
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This was such a great surprise. We had purchased our tickets on line but when we got there we had to register each ticket on their website. The staff knew what to do but it still took 10-15 minutes to complete before we could get in. The Basilica is incredible! Just wait till you see who all of greats are buried here. The place has so many neat and sweet surprises. Go here!
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This is absolutely my favorite of all the Churches in Florence and possibly second only to Saint Peter's in Rome. So many famous and historical figures are buried here: Michaelangelo and Galileo would have been enough but it's a long list. The artwork is stunning and I can't do justice to the beauty of the church here. Absolute must see!!
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Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli are all buried very close to each other, and their tombs are all decorated very beautifully. (Dante has a tomb in the church, but it is empty. He’s actually buried in Ravenna.) The basilica itself is very peaceful and reverent. We enjoyed the art and grounds made available for visitors. It is very much worth a ticket for the variety of an experience that it offers.
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Amazing history and beautiful architecture! Make sure to keep a bottle of water and umbrella during the hot summer months. There are coffee, wine and beer shops along the way. Also, watch for pickpocketing.
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This church is a must see with Michelangelo tomb and Machiavelli tomb. Absolutely beautiful art on wall and ceilings. A dozen alters, museum, courtyard. There unfortunately is no gift shop. Lovely area.
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