Basilica of Santa Croce

Overview

Visit one of the most beautiful churches of Florence and the largest Franciscan church in the world - the Basilica of Santa Croce, visited each year by hundreds of thousands people.

The Basilica of Santa Croce is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories, as many important artists, writers and scientists, including Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Gioachino Rossini, Ugo Foscolo and Leon Battista Alberti are buried here.

Your ticket gives you access to the treasures of the Monumental Complex which includes the Basilica, the Cloisters, and the Museo dell'Opera.

Address: Monumental Complex of Santa Croce, Piazza Santa Croce 16, Florence.


Your entrance ticket is a contribution to the preservation and restoration of the Basilica heritage.

In order for you to see the most important works of art of the Monumental Complex, we recommend you plan on spending a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour on your visit.

Opening Hours


Monday – Saturday:

9:30am to 5:00pm


Sunday and Holidays (January 6, August 15, November 1, December 8):

2:00pm to 5:00pm


The Complex remains open on Easter Monday, May 1 and June 2.



The ticket office closes at 5:00pm.

Ticket is valid for a single day and one entrance.



The Monumental Complex is CLOSED on the following dates:


January 1, Easter Sunday, June 13 (Saint Anthony), October 4 (Saint Francis), December 25 and 26.

Extraordinary closings can be expected during certain events taking place in Piazza Santa Croce and for issues of public order (for example, for the Florentine Calcio Storico games taking place at the end of June).


Reservations can be confirmed 6 months before the visit, and can be made up to 1 business day before it.



Reservation can be made for a maximum of 35 people per each escort.



Opera di Santa Croce reserves the right to modify reservations at any time for organizational reasons.



Tickets must be picked up 15 minutes before confirmed time at the reservations cashier. Guides and escorts are asked to respect this time to avoid crowding and delays at the entrance.


PLEASE NOTE: Immediately after submitting an order, you will receive an email with your order summary plus a second email confirming your successful payment. A confirmation email with links to the vouchers will be sent one business day after you place your order (Monday afternoon for orders submitted on Friday and during the weekend). Please make sure that your anti-spam filter does not block automatic emails from help@waf.it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The time you select on the order form is your preferred time. The museum or attraction will automatically confirm the closest available time, which can be any time during opening hours on the selected date, if your preferred time is no longer available.


Cancellation Policy:

Your booking cannot be modified nor canceled.

The cost of the priority booking is non-refundable.



Entrances:

Individual Visitors

The entrance for individual visitors is placed in the Largo Bargellini, the street to the left as you face the Santa Croce facade. The ticket office is located in the portico in the Largo Bargellini just before the entrance.

Groups

Groups must enter at the left portal of the facade.

Wheelchair Users

For people with difficulty walking and wheelchair users, access to the Basilica is facilitated by a ramp located on the Largo Bargellini. To visit the cloisters, the Pazzi Chapel and the Museo dell'Opera, you will need to exit from the Basilica and enter from the access door to the cloisters, usually used as the exit (Piazza Santa Croce, the door to the right as you face the facade).

Audio Guide:

A multilingual audio guide for a standard visit of about 2.5 hours is available for rental in Italian, English, French, Spanish, and German inside the church.



IMPORTANT – Code of Conduct:

The Monumental Complex of Santa Croce is above all a place of worship. Visitors are asked to respect some simple rules.

• Appropriate clothing is required – no bare arms or bare legs

• Please be quiet

• Please turn your mobile phones off

• Do not eat nor drink

• Pets are not allowed

• Works of art must not be touched

• No smoking

• Please don't use flash or tripod

• Groups with over 10 people must use the whisper audio system (available at the reception)



• Authorization for professional photographic shoots must be requested from the Archivio dell’ Opera di Santa Croce

Details

Your single ticket gives you access to the treasures of the Monumental Complex which includes the Basilica, the cloisters, and the Museo dell'Opera.

The Basilica, with its T-shaped base and three naves, was built in the tradition of Franciscan convents. One of the most beautiful churches of Florence and the largest Franciscan church in the world, the Basilica of Santa Croce is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories, as many important artists, writers and scientists are buried here. You will be able to see the most important sepulchers (including those of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli), the tombs in the pavement, the altars by Vasari, and the many chapels with frescoes of the most important Italian artists from the 12th century (Giotto, Agnolo Gaddi, and others).



The Primo Chiostroor “main cloister” was built in the 14th century. It houses the Pazzi Chapel and the Funeral Gallery from the 18th century, as well as the Pietro Parigi Museum, dedicated to the works by the Florentine woodcut artist active in Santa Croce from 1965 to 1983 (Small Ancient Cloister). The 15th century cloister is placed between the Museo dell'Opera and the rear of the National Library.


The Museo dell'Opera is housed mainly in the refectory, between the 14th and the 15th century cloisters. Here you will have the opportunity to see such works of art as the Crucifix by Cimabue, the frescoes with the Last Supper, The Tree of Life by Taddeo Gaddi, the statue of San Ludovico by Donatello, the Descent of Christ into Limbo by Agnolo Bronzino, the Funeral Monument to Gastone della Torre by Tino di Camaino, terracottas by the Robbia family, and stained glass windows, some of which are attributed to Giotto.



Duration of the visit to all three areas is about 2 hours (2.5 hours with audio guide).

Prices

Full Price: Adults, families (1 full price ticket per each parent and free tickets for minor children)



Reduced Price: Children from 11 to 17 years old, groups of over 15 people



Free Admission - NO RESERVATIONS:

Residents of Florence and province, children under 11 years old, disabled and their escort, guides and tourist escorts, teachers leading school groups

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