Basilica of Santa Croce Tours and Activities

16 chapels, scores of tombs and countless priceless artworks are housed behind the white marble façade of the "Holy Cross" basilica. The great and the good of Florentine and Italian society have been buried in this church for hundreds of years, earning it the nickname the "Temple of Italian Glories". Galileo, Michelangelo, Rossini and Machiavelli are just some of the illustrious figures to have their final resting place here, and the weight of their historical significance is echoed in the splendour and ornateness of the tombs and chapels inside this marvellous building.Construction of today’s Santa Croce began in 1294, on the site of an earlier chapel founded by monks following St. Francis’ death. The largely Gothic design of the church’s high timber roof and tall arches reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The basilica became the place for greatly honoured Florentines to be buried with a number of wealthy families sponsoring the building of chapels here. They hired the most skilled artists to decorate the tombs, which is why you’ll find impressive sculptures, paintings and frescoes at every turn.Donatello’s famous wooden crucifix is housed in the Bardi Chapel and the basilica’s south wall is covered with the gilded limestone relief of his Annunciation. Other works to look out for are the frescoes by Giotto in the Bardi and Peruzzi chapels. The tomb of Michelangelo, who was almost as revered in his own lifetime as he is now, is beautifully ornate and the three allegorical figures symbolising sculpture, painting and architecture have inspired many of the other funerary monuments. The "Father of Modern Science", Galileo Galilei is also interred here, although he had to wait until 1737, some 95 years after his death, to be given a tomb in the main body of the church, due to a vehement suspicion of heresy in his work.The huge volume of treasures in Santa Croce make renting one of the audio guides a good investment. There are also free tours and even thematic tours, which you should book in advance. A good time to visit is during the first week in June when the "Calcio Storico", a soccer match dating back to the 16th century, takes place in the square outside. The basilica is open daily except for national holidays and Holy Days of Obligation and a small admission fee applies.