November 9, 2024 1:30PM What a beautiful church. This wasn't on our must see list while in Florence but so glad we made a pit stop here while looking for the leather school. Very short line to get in, I believe it was about 8 euros per person for a visit. We ended up spending about an hour ish browsing around. There were a lot of famous folks buried here... Right before our honeymoon we had lost my beloved kitty on the operating table for a dental procedure, she was 3.5 yo... on the same day we lost my mother in law to her battle with MS. It had been a rough couple of weeks before our trip. For some reason while sitting in this church I had an overwhelming feeling of sadness and relief at the same time. Which made this place so memorable for me. Known as the "Pantheon of Florence," it's the largest Franciscan church and serves as the burial site for famous Italians like Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Its history involves significant artistic decoration, including Giotto's frescoes, and later additions like the Neo-Gothic facade. Such a beautiful historic site with so much to look at. Definitely recommend to check them out if you ever visit Florence. read more

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Located about 2,600 feet southeast of the Duomo, my partner, our friends, family members, and I arrived at the Piazza di Santa Croce and the Basilica of Santa Croce (Italian for Basilica of the Holy Cross) St. Francis visited Florence at the beginning of the 13th century, and a few years later some friars of his congregation decided to stop in the city and build a church with a convent and an adjacent library. Thus was born this church. Today Santa Croce is a museum complex that brings together the Basilica, the chapels, the monastery, the bell tower, and the part dedicated exclusively to exhibitions, such as the former refectory, where we came last Tuesday. The €10 entry fee was well worth it. One has to wear appropriate outfits to gain entry. Basically, just make sure one has long shorts below the knees and arms are covered. Once inside this ornate Florentine gothic style, our attention is immediately drawn to the east end, where the tall narrow stained glass windows pierce the walls. The center nave is wide and well-lit. What is significant about Santa Croce is it became the resting place of so many great Italians, such as the great historian and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, sculptor and painter Michelangelo Buonarroti, astronomer Galileo Galilei, and composer Gioachino Rossini. There were probably more than a thousand art pieces on display here, including works of Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Giotto. One can easily spend half a day here--there is that much to see and explore! read more

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Just wow it's in my favorite movie -A Room with a View - and Michelangelo, Galileo, and Rossini are buried here and they have Giotto, but mostly on renovation. Nice gift store. Buy tickets outside but free for those who attend mass. Highly recommended! read more

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We paid eight euros each for admission with children under eighteen free. A printed map at the entrance is necessary to tell you what you are seeing. Some tombs for famous Italians: Dante, Rossini, Machiavelli, and Galileo. Stained glass is gorgeous. Classic late Gothic architecture. read more

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Our hotel was just steps away from this Basilica and the piazza that housed it. We spent many nights wandering the piazza, passing by the Basilica on our way to restaurants, shopping or sight-seeing. We knew we were going to stop in, we just didn't know it'd be on our last day in the city. We got to the ticket line a few minutes before they opened the gates. The line itself wasn't very long, and once they started letting us in it moved quickly. Tickets in hand, we made our way to the doors, following the map that was provided. Hot tip: the map wasn't very helpful. It was more confusing than anything else, and we ended up having to retrace our steps through the main part of the building a few times, trying to find the art or sites marked on the map. Still, the interior? Absolutely worth a visit. It's beautiful - that's not surprising. But the history? The ties to figures you may have read about in school? The preserved pieces of art, sculptures and tapestries that live in that space? The burial spots of some of histories most prolific artists, thinkers and leaders? My eyes grew wide at almost every stop, as my brain processed what I was seeing. There are so many nooks and other buildings to visit here. Definitely give yourself some time to read and absorb so you don't feel rushed between spots. And when you're done wandering all that the Basilica has to offer, you step outside and are in a beautiful piazza, where you can lounge and relax and people-watch (at least, that's what we did.) read more

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This was hands down my favorite basilica to visit on our trip to Italy. There is an admission fee, and I can see why people don't want to pay it, but I thought it was worth the less than 10 Euro a person to spends hours in this place. Yes, people talk a lot about the famous people buried here and that is something to marvel at and appreciate. Yes, the building itself is gorgeous, along with the smaller outlying buildings and the two, yes 2, cloisters. Yes, there are a lot of pieces of art made by said famous people. But what I found most interesting were the small things. Like, entering the opera, with it's modern glass door, you can see the old murals, made because not everyone back in the day knew how to read. They are fascinating and really just fun to look at. Back in the day fear mongering. Sounds bad when you say it like that but it's so darn interesting. I was also very interested in seeing part of Saint Francis of Assisi's habit and a shard from what they claim to be Jesus' cruciform. These sort of things seem so interesting. We also sat in a chapel outside of the first large cloister (the Pazzi Chapel) and rested out legs. We watched as students did art class and listened to the interesting facts from tour guides. Just a nice gorgeous day, soaking in information. read more

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TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY BEAUTY Now, there are a billion landmarks you can visit in Florence! I found this one to be less crowded than others and super special. You can enjoy the beauty of it, inside and out. For a small fee, you can see the interior of the "Basilica of the Holy Cross" church. And when you do, WOW! Your mouth will drop to the floor the moment you walk inside. There are stunning murals around the church's walls vividly depicting Jesus's journey. We spent about an hour admiring and walking through it. Afterwards, it has a great square with restaurants to grab a spritz or beer while delighting in the church's remarkably crafted facade. It's truly a treasure that I hope you'll take the time to see! read more

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I will be honest this was the last place I visited in Florence. It quite literally was 100 feet from my apartment. But I had resisted at that point in the trip I had seen enough places of worship and renaissance art to last me a lifetime. I was also perpetually annoyed buy many of these church's literally nickle and diming you for entrance fees but the allure of so many famous Italians buried there I went an hour before closing to check it out. Boy am I glad I did. This place was fantastic and to see the burial spots of so many historically important people was in and of itself worth the cost of admission. You are talking about titans like Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini et al. The interior and surrounding grounds were equally glorious. This place is well maintained and the staff was super helpful and friendly. It is a must see if you visit here. In addition we arrived on a weekend and both days there was a famers market of sorts in the courtyard in front of the church. Less so produce but lots of local honey, salumi and the like. It is also agreeably close to the Arno. read more

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We visited so many churches and museums while in Italy and Basilica di Santa Croce was one of them. So much history here. The original structure dates from 1212 when St Francis of Assisi visited Florence. The interior is filled with beautiful artwork by famous artists. It's also the burial place of some of the most famous Florentines such as Michelangelo, Galileo and more. If you love art, love histrionic sites, love old churches and museums this should be on your itinerary. I advise you to purchase tickets in advance to avoid the long lines during the busy summer days. It gets pretty packed with tourists. The location of the basilica is great, surrounded with shops and restaurants. read more

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Amazed that there were no lines this morning. We walked to the side of the church & after our clothing was deemed appropriate we went to the ticket office & purchased entrance for 8 Euros each. We were given a map indicating where all of the tombs of the masters are located. There was a Santa Croce app in English as well. WiFi & clean restrooms were available. This is still a place of worship in the masters held daily. It was built in 1295 and Giotto did the frescoes in 1320. Inside this beautiful 800 yrs old basilica are the tombs & memorials to the most famous Renaissance masters; Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante, Donatello, Berti read more

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Impressive church in Florence. Construction began on it back in the 13th century! It was interesting to find a monument to Enrico Fermi here. Michelangelo and Galileo are also buried here. The Pazzi chapel is here in one of the cloisters. That was exciting for me to see, as I'm interested in the Pazzi and Medici families (read about the Pazzi conspiracy, Easter 1478, it's quite the intrigue!). The cloister does indeed feel like a solemn and contemplative space. Very quiet; you'd hardly believe that the the plaza was buzzing just outside the walls. There's lots of beautiful art and several chapels in the church. Certainly worth a wander if you're in Florence. read more

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Also known as Santa Croce Opera this late-Gothic Franciscan church is a highlight of Florence. Accessed for just 8 Euros guests can say a prayer and marvel at not only the building and its courtyard, but also Giotto frescoes plus tombs of Michelangelo, Donatello, Galileo, Machiavelli and others. read more

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One of the top churches in Florence. If you like tour as you can get a simple one hour tour through Tripadvisor or other carriers. You can also get an audio tour for just a few euros. You won't need more than an hour. Michelangelo is buried here in his grave is beautiful. There is a tribute to Dante, and a great story about how Florence still can't get his body back. And of course Galileo. Get the audio tour so you can understand the significance of all the characters in each of these burial sites. It's a gorgeous church!! read more

Basilica di Santa Croce - I love that virtues are represented as woman. Who runs the world? Girls!! - Museums Near Me - Florence, FI

Temple of the Italian Glories. Imp - Don't forget to include this in your Itinerary. No visit to Florence is complete without paying homage to the city's most famous inhabitants, many of whom are buried within the church nicknamed the Temple of the Italian Glories. Come here to pay your respects to such notable Italians as artist Michelangelo, scientist Galileo Galilei and political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. Dante has a memorial, but alas, he was exiled from Florence when he died and so his body is actually buried in Ravenna. Santa Croce is also home to what some say is the most important art collection of any church in Italy, the most notable works being spectacular frescoes done by Giotto. The cathedral's 16 chapels also feature breath-taking works of art, including frescoes by Giotto, painted at the height of his talent. After you've sufficiently toured the church, head next door to the Museo dell' Opera di Santa Croce (Museum of Santa Croce), which houses several objects formerly found within the church itself. It is 20 minutes' walk from the main tourist area and walks to the church. You'll come across beautiful narrow cobbled streets filled with Gelato shops, cafes. read more

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This is a great church to visit not because of the beautiful cathedral. The church is very typical in Italy. What make this church famous is the most famous people in Florence bury here. It is know as temple glory with many glorious people in one place. The know people in the world who are bury there including great artist Michelangelo and Leonardo DaVinci, composer Rossini, astronomer Galileo Galilei, nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi. This is just a few name which very famous to the wold. Although the church name is Holy Cross. I would said is most important landmark in the Florence. There is fees for the visit. I think is worth for your visit. read more

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Florence has such an abundance of Renaissance beauty, it can be hard to make a case for squeezing a church into your packed schedule. But if you can, the Basilica Santa Croce is worth your while. A gorgeous church, the largest Franciscan church in the world, Santa Croce is awe-inspiring: we wandered around getting a stiff neck from gazing upward. On the sides of the church are tombs of the Renaissance masters: Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and more. Amazing art and statuary are everywhere. Sixteen chapels with frescoes from great artists such as Giotto can be found throughout the church (alas, several main ones are in the process of restoration). The basilica is immense, so large my wife and I got separated and it took almost an hour to find each other again! (No cell signal). A lovely open-air courtyard is accessible, with additional chapels accessible from there. A gift shop is also available. read more

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Paris has the Pantheon. London has Westminster Abbey. Florence has Santa Croce - burial place of some of the city's most revered citizens. Among others - Galileo, Machiavelli and Michelangelo. The church itself is the largest Franciscan church in the world and is packed with art. Donatello, Della Robbia, Gaddi, a crucifix by Cimabue and of course the incomparable Bardi chapel frescoes by Giotto. Seeing them in person, close up - it was something special. There's even a chapel designed by the great Brunelleschi, builder of the Duomo dome. In addition to the church, you can visit the large cloister areas, the chapter house, refractory and other areas of the complex. All are packed with amazing Renaissance frescoes. There's a sobering exhibit in the courtyard on the '66 flood which was especially devastating to the church and surrounding neighborhood. When you've had your fill of famous Florentines and frescoes, there's only one thing to do - SHOP. Santa Croce has you well covered here with the famous leather school which can be accessed directly from the church. I love art, I love history, I love old churches and I love shopping. Therefore, I love Santa Croce with all my heart - it was by far one of my most favorite places in Florence. read more

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This is a small but nice museum. Reservations are a must so you don't have to wait hours in line to get in. The sculptures from Michael Angelo are very impress! The statue of David is quite large. There are many religious paintings that are beautifully done and impressive to see. read more

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I think a lot of visitors to Florence tick the Academia and the Florence Cathedral. The Uffizi is far more impressive than the Academia. And Santa Croce is far more interesting inside than the Florence Cathedral. The Basilica has an admission fee, but there is more to do than you'd expect. Inside are the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli amongst other famous Florentines. The cathedral also houses some impressive artwork by Donatello, Giotto, and others. But rather than just walk inside the church and look around then leave, the church is part of a larger complex that you can tour such as the cloisters, refractory, sacristy, crypt, and museum. The whole complex is full of art and rich with history. Overall, highly recommended! read more

Very impressive cathedral! The dedications and monuments to Galileo, Michelangelo, and more are super impressive! The cathedral is huge, lots to see! You need at least 1 hour here! Totally recommend! read more

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The Basilica of Santa Croce is the principal Franciscan church in Florence and the largest Franciscan church in the world. Legends say that the church was founded by St. Francis himself. It is situated on land that was once part of the Arno River and is frequently subjected to floods to this day. As such the lower class worked here and the Franciscan monks with their austere lifestyle provided spiritual support to the area. Admission is €8 and can be bought either through the church or the adjoining leather school (more on this later). This site is included in the Firenze Card. Modest dress required. The basilica has three distinctive features that make it worth visiting. 1. The most notable feature is that it contains the bones of prominent Florentines: Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli come to mind while Dante's is a cenotaph, an empty tomb as he was exiled from Florence and lived in Ravenna until his death (his actual body is there). Galileo and Michelangelo have the most prominent memorials. There are significantly more candles lit next to their memorials than any other. To celebrate their achievements in the arts and sciences I paid my €1 tribute for both to light my candles. 2. The 16 chapels. Prominent Florentine families helped sponsor the church during its construction. As a reward chapels within the basilica were built and decorated in their honor. These were private spaces in which the family can worship in solitude. Some of the most notable include: Bardi Chapel: 6 episodes depict the life of St. Francis by Giotto. Peruzzi Chapel: Contains 6 frescos that depict scenes from the 2 most famous Johns of the Bible - John the Baptist and John the Evangelist by Giotto. Rinuccini chapel: aka the sacristy. Pazzi Chapel: The Pazzi family commissioned Brunelleschi to create this space as the basilica's chapter house (space to hold meetings). The most notable feature of this chapel are its domes (not surprising for the guy who constructed the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore). 3. The leather school (https://www.yelp.com/biz/scuola-del-cuoio-firenze?hrid=-t-ehz-Mc-s8MC9jyQeAIQ). People come from all over the world to learn the art of making leather. Classes range from small workshops ranging from a couple of hours to full-on apprenticeships taking several weeks. It's one of the few places in Florence that also sell good quality leather goods; I got my wallet from here. If you purchase your ticket to Santa Croce from here you will access the main basilica from a side entrance. The Renaissance is one of the most celebrated time periods in world history and Florence is the city that most glorifies this time period. Regardless of your religious affiliation I highly recommend visiting this chapel to pay your respects to Michelangelo (Sistine Chapel, David) and Galileo (heavily advocated heliocentrism, now considered scientific fact), two of the most renowned men to come from Florence. read more

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The Basilica di Santa Croce (English translation "Basilica of the Holy Cross") is nicknamed the "Temple of the Italian Glories" because it is the burial place of some of the most well known and admired Italians in history. Michelangelo (sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer), Galileo (physicist, mathematician, engineer, astronomer, and philosopher), Machiavelli (historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer), Foscolo (writer, revolutionary and poet), Giovani Gentile (philosopher and politician), and Rossini (composer) are buried at the Basilica di Santa Croce. There is also a memorial to Dante at the church, but his coffin is empty. The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world. One of the most notable features of this church is its 16 chapels. The Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels are decorated with frescoes by the Italian painter, Giotto di Bondone, that depict scenes from the lives of St. Francis and St. John the Evangelist. Also note the Capplla dei Pazzi (English translation: Pazzi Chapel) that is located in the main cloister of the church. The Pazzi Chapel is considered one of the masterpieces of Renaissance architecture. Tickets for the Basilica di Santa Croce are 6 Euros for adults and there are various discounts for families, children, and local Florentines. Last admission is at 5pm, a half hour before closing time, but I would advise giving yourself an hour an a half to see all of the tombs, memorials and paintings. read more

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This was actually my favorite church in Firenze, though it's one of the few which does require an entry fee... so keep that in mind. However, the euros spent are absolutely worth it. You'll see the tombs of many legendary Italians, including Galileo and Michelangelo, some amazing stained glass, the cloisters... there's so much to see, and I certainly can't do a better job than your guide book! :) Don't plan to run in and out of this one - I think we spent at least an hour here, wandering through the church itself, the cloisters, the gardens... it's all beautiful. If (when) I return to Firenze, I won't redo all my tourist tops - but I will definitely make a return here. It was that impressive. read more

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We were in Florence in November and I didn't expect big crowds that late in the season but I was sadly mistaken. There were extremely long lines for the Duomo and we didn't feel like spending most of an afternoon standing in line so we decided to visit the Basilica di Santa Croce which was an easy walk from our hotel. This was a wise decision and we had a very relaxing afternoon at the Basilica, in the piazza in front of the Basilica, and later having drinks and dinner at a restaurant overlooking the piazza. It was a great afternoon. The Basilica itself is beautiful and uncrowded. Many notables such as Galileo are buried here but for us the serenity and beauty of the Basilica made this a wonderful experience. Florence is a beautiful city with famous attractions however these can be very crowded even in "off season" (I can only imagine what it is like during high tourist season). We have found that some of our most memorable experiences have come when we stepped a little off of the beaten path. When you are in Florence you really should visit the Basilica di Santa Croce and its adjoining piazza and have a drink and dinner in one of the many nearby excellent restaurants. read more

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"Pantheon of Florence" for sure. Amazing tombstones, unique chapels, impressive architecture and artworks. HIGHLY recommend taking a *free* tour by one of the volunteers. Don't miss the small chapel in the courtyard with unbelievable acoustics and mathematical precision. read more

Basilica di Santa Croce - Chapel of the Pazzi family - Museums Near Me - Florence, FI

The Basilica di Santa Croce brought my history books alive. It made the people I learned about/read about in elementary school become real. Marconi, Inventor of the Radio Michelangelo, Sculptor of David Nicolavs Machiavelli, Author of The Prince Galileo, Astronomer These guys are all buried here, all under one roof. The tombs are ready for viewing and you can take a self guided tour just by following the numbers. The Basilica di Santa Croce is a quiet church, maybe not the most exciting place in Florence but one to visit (for the fame and history it houses). If you have extra days in Florence or just want to do something not as congested or touristy, come visit the Basilica di Santa Croce. If not, don't fret. You're not missing much. It's like a small indoor cemetery. read more

Basilica di Santa Croce - Machiavelli - Museums Near Me - Florence, FI

For 6 Euros for adults and less for kids under 17, this could be the best deal in all of Florence. Come early when they open and you will see the many famous artists and figures of history buried here. Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini, Fermi, Galileo! That is so cool. Besides, this a wonderful baroque church and very nice to tour. A must stop while in Firenze. read more

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Basilica di Santa Croce is a most visit church if you are a Art History addict like me. Built in 1294, one of the oldest and the largest Franciscan Churches in the World. That fact alone is worth your visit. Here you can see the work of the Masters from the Late Middle Ages to Renaissance and beyond. You will see school groups coming here for on site lectures which I participated and learnt so much. Of course the tombs and funerary monuments of "Rich and the Famous" are here Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante, Rossini and others. Compare to Duomo down the street, I find Santa Croce is a lot more enjoyable and less crowded with tourists too!! There are some cafes and bars if you want to grab a coffee or a beer at night.. a lot of locals hang out at the piazza too. read more

Perhaps nowhere can match the Duomo's stunning facade, but even the Duomo cannot compare with Santa Croce when it comes to comparing importance. With only London's Westminster Abbey that can match, Santa Croce is the final resting places for so many famous Italians including Galileo and Michelangelo that it's nicknamed the Temple of Italian Greats! Do you want to feel greatness? A visit to Santa Croce may do the job! While Westminster Abbey is dark and gloomy to mourn for death, Santa Croce is of a completely opposite atmosphere that even airs optimism that mankind has witnessed the existences of great minds before! Even in the midst of mourning statues, the brightly-lit basilica creates an unspoken celebration to the greats that posthumously call this church their final resting place. Aside from being the Temple of Italian Greats, Santa Croce itself has many beautiful fresco throughout its interior. Despite the devastating flood of 1966, the church restored most of its damages so we are fortunate enough to witness the beautifully-decorated altar walls adorned with art of both medieval and Renaissance style. While the Duomo's stunning exterior is a must-see, you won't miss much by not going inside. However, I believe for all Florence visitors, Santa Croce is a must-visit destination. If the museums like the Uffizi are a celebration of the greats' accomplishments, Santa Croce is a celebration of the greats themselves. --- tl;dr version 1) Even more must-go than the Duomo! 2) Final resting places for many greats including Galileo and Michelangelo 3) Beautiful frescos throughout read more

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Florence has so many big churches and cultural sights it's easy to skim the surface and just walked by and admired the magnificent exterior without examining the details and background history. That's exactly what we did. We were so immersed in finding our way to the Piazzale Michelangiolo that we just followed the tourist walkabout guide and made an obligatory stop. Only belatedly afterwards did we recognize the significance of this beautiful landmark. read more

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Another gorgeous Basilica in Italy. It gets to be overwhelming how many of these there are in one country. Very worthwhile stop.

I visited this basilica when we were in Florence on a day trip from our cruise ship docked in Livorno. Santa Croce of Florence was completed in 1442 and has an interesting past included the death of a tourist from Spain, killed by falling masonry in October 2017. Inspections were completed before the basilica was reopened to the public. There is a lot of artwork located in this basilica. There is a bell tower and large courtyard on the property adjacent to the main structure. It is said that Basilica di Santa Croce di Florence is the largest Franciscan church in the world. The interior is very ornate with a very distinguishable exterior. It was a nice visit. read more

Beautiful Church in a great location!

Architecturally, this is one of the most beautiful churches that I've seen. It's so incredibly ornate and delicate. This is the final resting place of some of Florence's masters - Gallileo, Michaelangelo and Dante, to name a few. Despite the beauty of this church, there's not a whole lot of foot traffic so it's a wonderful place to visit without feeling like you're part of a herd of cattle. A definite must if you're in Florence. It will take about 10 minutes to walk from the Duomo. read more

We made a last minute decision to wait in the line and go into the basilica. SO glad we did, it is absolutely beautiful and filled with history. Beautiful artwork, tombs to many famous Italians, and a beautiful leather shop that had insanely reasonable prices for their pieces. This is a must stop and see in Florence! read more

Was hesitant to go to another church but sure glad we did. Totally agree with the reviews of Michelle M and Ashley B.

A beautiful Basilica holding the remains of some of the generations of Florentine poets, scientists, artists, philosophers etc etc. Unfortunately, Dante is missing as he was banished from Florence and this sentence was not reprieved until 2008. Ravenna will now not return his remains. You cannot be impressed more by the magnificence of this building and the restoration work being carried out. We could have spent quite a few more hours in here just wandering. read more

After paying 6 Euros, I toured Basilica di Santa Croce, the church where Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli are buried. The inside has a beautiful, high wood ceiling, intricately painted. There are numerous private chapels in the facility where wealthy families held their own private services. For such a magnificent space, there were not a lot of people around. It seems this church is overshadowed by the Duomo, which should not be the case at all! read more

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This church was my favorite I saw in Florence during my 11 day trip. I went by myself and was blown away with how beautiful it was. Pictures don't do it justice -- highly recommend checking it out and spending some time to soak it in. read more

OVER RATED !!!!! Many "tombs" were merely monuments to the memory of.... Horrible audio tour and floor maps. Save your time and go to Sienna. The Cathedral of Sienna is 5 vs this church. Should be free of charge. read more