Basilica di Santa Croce
Florence’s great Franciscan basilica, with its cloisters and the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Rossini.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Basilica di Santa Croce is the great Franciscan church of Florence, built from 1294 and linked to the religious and civic history of the city. For centuries it attracted artists and patrons, who left fresco cycles, chapels and funerary monuments there. Because of its illustrious burials, it is often called the “Tempio delle Itale Glorie” (Temple of Italian Glories).
The naves hold the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Gioachino Rossini, Vittorio Alfieri and other figures of Italian culture, as well as a cenotaph dedicated to Dante Alighieri. The wide three-aisled church faces the square of the same name.
The complex also includes the cloisters and conventual rooms, such as the first cloister with the Cappella dei Pazzi, and the Museo dell’Opera di Santa Croce. The visit, run by the Opera di Santa Croce, takes about fifty minutes through the whole complex, with audio guides and guided tours available. Admission to the church for worship is free.
Highlights
- Tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Rossini
- Cenotaph of Dante Alighieri
- Transept with frescoed chapels
- Cloisters and conventual rooms
- Cappella dei Pazzi and Museo dell’Opera di Santa Croce
Permanent exhibition
- Basilica, chiostri e ambienti conventuali – Route through the basilica with the illustrious tombs and through the cloister complex.
- Founded
- 1294
- Operated by
- Opera di Santa Croce
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Children aged 12 to 17, university students, school groups and groups of 15–35 people (guide excluded), teachers with Edumuseicard |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Free admission for children aged 0 to 11. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for visitors with disabilities and their companions. |
| Students & apprentices | €6University students. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €6 per personGroups of 15 to 35 people (guide excluded); groups of more than 15 people must use earphones (€1.50). |
| Families | €10Family ticket: children under 18 enter free, and accompanying parents pay €10 each. |
| Audio guide (online rental) | €4On-site rental €6, with an identity document held as deposit. |
Free admission: Some public holidays of the year (see opening hours).
Admission is also free for residents of the Comune di Firenze, holders of the Firenze Card, authorised guides, journalists with a professional card, members of religious orders and ICOM members. Reductions and free admission require a document proving the entitlement, and free tickets must be collected at the ticket office. Online purchase incurs a booking fee of €1 (excluding school and family tickets). Entry for worship is free.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Visitors with disabilities enter via the ramp on the side of the basilica, or via the platform at the entrance to the cloister towards Piazza Santa Croce. The naves are easy to walk through, but some areas have limited access. The toilets are in the first cloister, near the exit; the accessible toilet is requested from the reception staff. Guide dogs are admitted for people with certified visual or hearing impairment.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 50 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
| Family ticket | €10 · Family ticket: children under 18 enter free, and accompanying parents pay €10 each. |
Children up to 11 enter free. The website has a dedicated section for schools, families and adults.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Coat check
Luggage storage at Largo Bargellini, before the entrance to the basilica.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN, FR, ES, DE, PT) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Personal photographs are allowed without flash or tripod, but not during services. Professional filming requires written authorisation. |
| Good to know | The audio guide lasts about an hour and is available in Italian, English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese. Guided tours, tours on request and private visits for small groups and families are offered (bookings: +39 055 246 6105). Dress code: shoulders and legs must be covered; free disposable kimonos are available. Smoking, eating and drinking are not allowed inside, and animals are admitted only if they are guide dogs. |
