Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross), Florence (must see)
Santa Croce is one of the most celebrated Franciscan churches in the world and a jewel of Gothic architecture in Florence. Built over the 13th and 14th centuries, it鈥檚 often called the 鈥淭emple of Italian Glories鈥濃�攁nd for good reason. This is where some of Italy鈥檚 greatest minds and artists are buried鈥攁mong them Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, and the composer Rossini.
Michelangelo鈥檚 journey back to Florence after death is itself the stuff of legend. Though he died in Rome, Cosimo de鈥� Medici made sure his remains returned home. The Medici ruler, unable to properly honor the artist in life, vowed to do so in death鈥攁nd, to this end, commissioned an elaborate tomb. Designed by Giorgio Vasari, the tomb took 14 years to complete and features symbols tied to Michelangelo鈥檚 creative legacy. Three laurel wreaths represent his mastery of painting, sculpture, and architecture, each mourned by a figure carved in deep sorrow below his bust.
Galileo鈥檚 story follows a similarly complicated path. Though he died in 1642, his tomb wasn鈥檛 built until nearly a century later, in 1737, now facing Michelangelo鈥檚 across the nave. It鈥檚 adorned with allegorical figures representing Astronomy and Geometry, and quietly also includes the tomb of his daughter, Maria Celeste鈥攖hough her presence often goes unnoticed.
Dante, however, remains absent. While Florence tried for years to reclaim his remains, the poet still lies in Ravenna, the city that welcomed him after exile. Here in Santa Croce, an empty sarcophagus stands in his honor, and a grand statue was erected outside the church in 1865 for his 600th birth anniversary.
The interior is filled with masterpieces by Giotto, Donatello, Vasari, Canova, and others too numerous to list in one breath. Outside, the tranquil cloisters and green courtyard offer a quiet space to pause or sketch, while the square hosts everything from live concerts to raucous games of Florentine 鈥渞ugby.鈥�
Tip: Be sure to stop by the Leather School just behind the church. You can watch apprentices at work and maybe find a unique handmade piece to take home. Just remember: modest attire is required鈥攏o bare shoulders or short shorts, especially for women, as the dress code is firmly enforced.
Michelangelo鈥檚 journey back to Florence after death is itself the stuff of legend. Though he died in Rome, Cosimo de鈥� Medici made sure his remains returned home. The Medici ruler, unable to properly honor the artist in life, vowed to do so in death鈥攁nd, to this end, commissioned an elaborate tomb. Designed by Giorgio Vasari, the tomb took 14 years to complete and features symbols tied to Michelangelo鈥檚 creative legacy. Three laurel wreaths represent his mastery of painting, sculpture, and architecture, each mourned by a figure carved in deep sorrow below his bust.
Galileo鈥檚 story follows a similarly complicated path. Though he died in 1642, his tomb wasn鈥檛 built until nearly a century later, in 1737, now facing Michelangelo鈥檚 across the nave. It鈥檚 adorned with allegorical figures representing Astronomy and Geometry, and quietly also includes the tomb of his daughter, Maria Celeste鈥攖hough her presence often goes unnoticed.
Dante, however, remains absent. While Florence tried for years to reclaim his remains, the poet still lies in Ravenna, the city that welcomed him after exile. Here in Santa Croce, an empty sarcophagus stands in his honor, and a grand statue was erected outside the church in 1865 for his 600th birth anniversary.
The interior is filled with masterpieces by Giotto, Donatello, Vasari, Canova, and others too numerous to list in one breath. Outside, the tranquil cloisters and green courtyard offer a quiet space to pause or sketch, while the square hosts everything from live concerts to raucous games of Florentine 鈥渞ugby.鈥�
Tip: Be sure to stop by the Leather School just behind the church. You can watch apprentices at work and maybe find a unique handmade piece to take home. Just remember: modest attire is required鈥攏o bare shoulders or short shorts, especially for women, as the dress code is firmly enforced.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) on Map
Sight Name: Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Duomo Souvenir Shopping
It would be a pity to leave Florence without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original. On this self-guided tour, we've compiled a list of shops and markets where you can find something unique to remember your Florentine visit.
Start at Central Market, which is not only a fun and colorful place to visit, but also the best place to stop for a meal.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Start at Central Market, which is not only a fun and colorful place to visit, but also the best place to stop for a meal.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Florence's Hidden Art Treasures
The 鈥淐radle of the Renaissance,鈥� Florence is one of Europe鈥檚 most beautiful and busiest destinations, home to some of the world's greatest pieces of art and architecture. The iconic masters like Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as their somewhat less-known but equally talented counterparts, such as Ghirlandaio, Sangallo and Castagno, have blessed this city with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of the Arno River鈥攌nown as Oltrarno, or 鈥淏eyond the Arno鈥濃�攐ffers a quieter, more intimate side of Florence, but one that鈥檚 no less captivating. It鈥檚 here that you鈥檒l find the grand Pitti Palace, home to a painting collection rivaled only by the Uffizi Gallery, and the expansive Boboli Gardens, once the private domain of the Medici and later, the royal family. As one of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Dante's Florence Walking Tour
Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps
Galileo Galilei鈥攂orn in Pisa in 1564鈥攕pent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents鈥攑hysicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor鈥攈e helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity鈥檚 understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Top 13 Pubs in Florence
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Souvenir Shopping Guide: 15 Unique Products to Buy in Florence
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