Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence

Florence, Italy

SpiritualPilgrimageHistoryArts Culture

Would you do this?

Duration1.5 hrs

EffortEasy

BudgetBudget

PriceUSD 9

StyleSelf-Guided

OpenEvery day

Best monthsMar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov

About This Activity

Santa Croce is Florence's principal Franciscan church and the burial place of Italy's greatest minds — Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Ghiberti all rest beneath its stone floor or in chapel tombs. The nave is lined with commemorative monuments and the Cappella dei Pazzi, designed by Brunelleschi, is considered one of the purest examples of early Renaissance architecture. The adjacent Museo dell'Opera holds Cimabue's Crucifix restored after the 1966 flood. Entry costs €8; allow 1.5–2 hours.

Seasonal note: Year-round; less crowded than the Uffizi even in peak summer

See This in an Itinerary

This activity appears in 48 of our curated itineraries.

Best 3 Days in Italy — Temples & Shrines

Rome → Florence

Day 2 · 2 cities · 4 activities

Best 3 Days in Italy — Temples & Shrines (Saturday Start)

Rome → Florence

Day 2 · 2 cities · 4 activities

Best 3 Days in Italy — Temples & Shrines (Sunday Start)

Rome → Florence

Day 2 · 2 cities · 4 activities

Best 3 Days in Italy — Pilgrimage

Rome → Florence

Day 2 · 2 cities · 4 activities

Best 3 Days in Italy — Pilgrimage (Saturday Start)

Rome → Florence

Day 2 · 2 cities · 4 activities

Best 3 Days in Italy — Pilgrimage (Sunday Start)

Rome → Florence

Day 2 · 2 cities · 4 activities

More Activities in Florence

Uffizi Gallery with Renaissance masterpieces and artworks

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Book ahead for the Uffizi to see Botticelli's Birth of Venus, da Vinci's Annunciation, and the world's greatest Renaissance collection

Florence Cathedral dome and rooftops viewed from Brunelleschi's lantern

Florence Cathedral & Brunelleschi's Dome Climb

Climb 463 steps to the top of Brunelleschi's revolutionary dome for 360° views over Florence's terracotta rooftops

Michelangelo's David sculpture at the Accademia Gallery in Florence

Galleria dell'Accademia & Michelangelo's David, Florence

Book a timed slot to stand before Michelangelo's 5.17m marble David at the Galleria dell'Accademia

Medieval tower rising above the town of San Gimignano in Tuscany

Tuscany Day Trip — San Gimignano, Siena & Chianti Vineyards

Join a small-group day tour through Chianti vineyards, medieval San Gimignano, and a Tuscan farmhouse lunch

Chianti Classico Wine Tour from Florence

Visit two Chianti Classico estates for barrel tastings and a Tuscan lunch at an agriturismo in rolling vineyard country

Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River with jewelry shops

Ponte Vecchio & Oltrarno Artisan Quarter, Florence

Walk across the medieval Ponte Vecchio and browse Oltrarno's leatherworkers, bookbinders, and mosaic workshops

Traditional Florentine leather crafting workshop and artisan goods

Florentine Leather Workshop — Make Your Own Piece, Oltrarno

Hand-stitch a leather wallet, card holder, or bracelet under the guidance of an Oltrarno master craftsman

Florence cityscape panorama with the Duomo and distant mountains at sunset

Piazzale Michelangelo Sunset Experience

Watch the sunset over Florence's rooftops and Arno River from the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo