Tuscany Tours and the Basilica di Santa Croce Florence

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Measuring 377 ft (115 m) long and 124 ft (38 m) in width, it is the second biggest temple in Florence, exceeded only by the Cathedral.

Santa Croce, rebuilt for the Franciscan order in 1294 by Arnolfo di Cambio, is the burial place for the great and good in Florence. Michelangelo is buried in Santa Croce, as are Rossini, Machiavelli, and the Pisan-born Galileo Galilei, who was tried by the Inquisition and was not allowed a Christian burial until 1737, 95 years after his death. There is also a memorial to Dante, but his sarcophagus is empty.

There is immense artistic wealth in Santa Croce; frescoes (1380) by Gaddi in the Cappella Maggiore tell the story of the holy cross, "santa croce", and beautiful frescoes by Giotto in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels show scenes from the life of St. Francis and St. John the Evangelist. An unusual relief, the Annunciation, in gilded limestone by Donatello decorates the south nave wall. Don't miss the memorial to the 19th-century playwright Giovanni Battista Niccolini to the left of the entrance said to be been the inspiration for the Statue of Liberty.

The church of Santa Croce was severely hit by the flood of 1966, a tide plate shows how far up on the pillars and walls.

The Santa Croce square is not only packed with street artists and vendors on a daily basis but is also where activities take place throughout the year.

Facts about Santa Croce:

The original structure dates from 1212 when St. Francis of Assisi visited Florence, later with a group of his followers, he settled in the city, choosing an inhospitable, marshy area just outside the city walls. This original architectural base was re-discovered after the flood in 1966.

The present building began on the 3rd of May 1294 or 1295 (the year is not certain) the erection of the present church began and took years to finish.

The church exterior is covered with a polychrome marble façade added in 1863 and paid for by the English benefactor, Sir Francis Sloane. It looks onto the Piazza Santa Croce, which is the site of the annual soccer game in medieval costume, the Calcio Storico Fiorentino.

Bell Tower made of Santa Croce stone

Florentines often referred to the bell tower as “il sasso” or the stone, because it stood unfinished for more than 100 years. Over 78 meters tall, it is located to the right of the church within the cloister. The original bell tower built above the apse of the Church fell in 1512 and Francesco da Sangallo was asked to design another. But, as often happens in Italy work was interrupted due to the lack of funds until the 1800s when it was finally finished.

16 Chapels
There are sixteen family chapels that help compose the Santa Croce Basilica, considered the largest Franciscan church in the world and legend tells us that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. Wealthy families typically had chapels built and decorated in their honor (often seeking to appease the church or to ask forgiveness for sins they were unwilling to stop committing) and dedicated to a favorite saint.

Cloisters - Santa Croce hosts three cloisters, "a covered walk in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral, typically with an open colonnade", each built in a different moment of time. This space was isolated from the frenetic city life and responsibilities of the monks within the church, and an ideal place for silent contemplation, prayer, and meditation.

Tombs & Cenotaph - With so many things that make this church special, (the art, the architecture, the history), it may be that its reputation as the final resting place for so many important Florentine names through time which truly distinguishes this church from others in Florence. These include:

Michelangelo Buonarroti
Position: front entrance, to the right at the start of the side aisle

Dante Alighieri
Position: front entrance, to the right, just a third way down the side aisle. Note: There isn’t exactly a tomb only a cenotaph. Dante was exiled from Florence because of his political activities in 1302 and his body was buried in Ravenna.

Niccolò Machiavelli
Position: front entrance, to the right, halfway down the side aisle

Galileo Galilei
Position: front entrance, to the left

Would you like to join us on our Best of Tuscany tour?