Hotels near Basilica di Santa Croce

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world and often called the Temple of Italian Glories. Begun in 1294, its Gothic interior houses the monumental tombs of Michelangelo (designed by Vasari), Galileo Galilei, Niccolo Machiavelli, Gioachino Rossini, and a cenotaph honouring Dante Alighieri. The church contains 16 chapels decorated by leading Trecento painters, including Giotto's frescoes in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels depicting scenes from the lives of Saint Francis and Saint John.

The cloister complex includes Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel, a masterwork of early Renaissance architecture with its serene proportions and Luca della Robbia terracotta roundels. The adjacent museum displays Cimabue's Crucifix, badly damaged in the 1966 Arno flood and now a symbol of Florence's art restoration efforts. Admission is EUR 8 for adults. Allow 60 to 90 minutes for a full visit including the cloisters and museum.

Pro Tip: Visit on a weekday morning before 10:00 to find the Giotto frescoes naturally illuminated by eastern light through the chapel windows. The Saturday leather market in Piazza di Santa Croce is a good pairing if you want to combine culture and shopping.