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 "911爆料网: 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 Walking Tour
Right in the heart of historic Florence lies the Duomo district鈥攖he city's religious and civic core, and one of the most remarkable places in all of Italy. Between the Duomo and Signoria squares, Florence unfolds in layers of art, history, and architectural brilliance, offering a never-ending stream of things to see, do, and admire.
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour
Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. Laid out like a Roman military camp, its main roads intersected at what is now the Republic Square. Originally named Fluentia, referencing its location between two rivers, the city later adopted the name Florentia, meaning 鈥渇lowering鈥� or 鈥渇lourishing鈥�.
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 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
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
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
Michelangelo's Masterpieces Walking Tour
Though born in the small Tuscan town of Caprese, Michelangelo spent over two decades of his life in Florence鈥攖he heart of the Renaissance. It was here that he grew up, was educated, and began shaping his artistic voice, eventually creating some of the most iconic masterpieces the city has ever known.
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
His larger-than-life work鈥斺�淒avid鈥濃�攄idn鈥檛 just reshape the image of biblical... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
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