Florence · Santa Croce
Basilica of Santa Croce
The Franciscan basilica with the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, frescoed chapels and a cloister.
- 1 h 15
- €10
- Booking: not needed
- Santa Croce
Data checked on October 4, 2026
The Franciscan church was begun in the late 13th century and holds the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, among others. The nave is wide and plain, and the interest lies in the side chapels, with frescoes by Giotto and his followers, and in the cloisters behind. The Pazzi Chapel in the first cloister is a small Renaissance building by Brunelleschi.
What to look for
- The tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli
- Giotto's frescoes in the Bardi and Peruzzi chapels
- The Pazzi Chapel by Brunelleschi
- The Cimabue Crucifix in the museum, damaged in the 1966 flood
Opening hours
| Monday | 9:30 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:00 pm |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:30 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 9:30 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 9:30 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | 9:30 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | 2:00 pm–5:30 pm | last entry 5:00 pm |
Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:30, Sunday 14:00 to 17:30. No new entry after 17:00, and after 16:30 on free-entry days. Entry is free on some dates, including 4 October and the second Sunday of November. Closed on 25 December.
Source: Opera di Santa Croce, checked October 4, 2026
Tickets and booking
Adult ticket €10. The standard ticket is 10 and covers the monumental complex. Booking online adds a fee of 1 per ticket, and entry is free on some dates during the year.
Getting there
Walk about ten minutes east of the Duomo, and the Magliabechi bus stop is two minutes from the basilica.
Tip
Pick a weekday morning. On Sundays the church only opens in the afternoon.