In Florence, Santa Croce refers to one of the city's most beautiful churches, the Basilica of Santa Croce, but also to the entire district that surrounds it. From the square in front of which stands the austere statue of Dante Alighieri, arguably the greatest author of classical Italian literature, you can discover a typically Florentine way of life, day and night.
Around the Piazza Santa Croce, tourists are always present to admire the jewel of Gothic art that is the Basilica, but there are fewer of them here than in the Piazza del Duomo, or around the Palazzo Vecchio in the historic centre... Santa Croce is still a popular district, made up of narrow streets full of charm, and dotted with places to do a little shopping or go out in the evening.
While the highlight of the show is the Basilica of Santa Croce, the district will also hold your interest for longer than you expected!
Holy Cross
- © Veryuzhskiy Ivan / Shutterstock
It's not without a thrill when you arrive in the Piazza di Santa Croce, face to face with its namesake church, the Basilica di Santa Croce. It is said that Stendhal fainted when he first saw it!
This extraordinary monument, the largest Franciscan church in the world, proudly displays its Italian Gothic style. Built between 1294 and 1385, it owes its name to the fragment of the Holy Cross offered by Saint-Louis to the Franciscans on his return from the Crusades.
The marble facade of Santa Croce
- © Efired / ShutterstockMany alterations have been made since then, the most obvious being the covering of the façade of Santa Croce with polychrome marble in the 19th century. Inside, the church has a more austere appearance, but don't let that fool you: it's packed with works of art (Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Vasari, Ghiberti...), frescoes, paintings and ceramics that will delight aesthetes who love the Florentine Golden Age.
Inside Santa Croce
- © Kamira / ShutterstockSanta Croce has a special status in the history of Florence, as an artistic, religious and political symbol. The church is also home to the tombs of some of Florence's greatest names, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and Rossini!
While the Basilica of Santa Croce is the highlight of the area, it is likely to hold your attention for even longer, provided you take the time to linger there.
Dante himself
- © Tim__R / ShutterstockFirst of all, in the Piazza Santa Croce, there is the statue of Dante Alighieri, nicknamed the "Father of the Italian language": a Florentine, he is the author of the Divine Comedy, in which Dante himself visits Hell, Purgatory and Paradise!
👉 Florence isn't just about art and literature. There's also sport, and nowhere has it been played for as long as the Calcio Storico: part football, part rugby, part all-out brawl, this unusual tournament combines fisticuffs and period costumes, and takes place every year around Midsummer's Day, 24 June.
Around Santa Croce, the district of the same name has a typically southern feel: narrow streets, little terraces, colourful facades in warm tones... the little streets of Santa Croce are a far cry from the cliché of a museum town!
It's a lively place, with original boutiques for shopping by day and a vibrant neighbourhood life in the evening, with bars, theatres and trendy clubs lining the surrounding streets.
Le quartier Holy Cross
- © vvoe / ShutterstockIt's a great place to visit, but also a great place to find a charming little hotel for your holiday in Florence.
Florence
On foot, Piazza Santa Croce is just 7 minutes from Piazza della Signoria in the Centro Storico: walking is your best ally for discovering the Santa Croce district.
Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm (last entrance at 5pm).
Sundays and religious holidays: from 12:30 to 17:45 (last entrance at 17:00)
Full price: €8
Reduced rate (12-17 years, students, etc.): €6
Families: free for under-18s with their parents.
Admission to the Basilica of Santa Croce is included in the Firenze Card.
Directly on site at the church ticket office
Online at the Santa Croce ticket office (booking fee of €1 per ticket).
Address: Piazza Santa Croce 16
Tel: +39 055 2466105
Mail: booking@santacroceopera.it
