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Basilica of Santa Croce

Experience the majesty of Florence's Basilica of Santa Croce. Marvel at its Gothic architecture and the tombs of legends like Michelangelo and Galileo. Breeze pass queues with skip-the-line tickets or opt for an audio guided tour for an engaging visit.
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Slide 1 of 9, Santa Croce Basilica altar with stained glass windows and ornate architecture in Florence, Italy.
Santa Croce Basilica altar with stained glass windows and ornate architecture in Florence, Italy.
Explore at your pace
  • Skip the ticket queue and walk straight into the world's largest Franciscan basilica. The full complex is yours to explore at your own pace.

  • Stand before Giotto's 14th-century frescoes in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels, among the finest surviving examples of pre-Renaissance painting in Italy.

  • Pay your respects at the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli: three of history's greatest minds, all buried within the same nave.

  • Wander through Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel, the cloisters, the crypt, and the Opera Museum. One ticket covers it all, with nothing extra to pay inside.

  • While admiring these masterpieces, do not forget to witness Pio Fedi’s Freedom of Poetry, a marble statue symbolizing freedom of expression. It is believed that Freedom of Poetry inspired the Statue of Liberty of New York!

More details
  • Skip the ticket queue and walk straight into the world's largest Franciscan basilica. The full complex is yours to explore at your own pace.

  • Stand before Giotto's 14th-century frescoes in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels, among the finest surviving examples of pre-Renaissance painting in Italy.

  • Pay your respects at the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli: three of history's greatest minds, all buried within the same nave.

  • Wander through Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel, the cloisters, the crypt, and the Opera Museum. One ticket covers it all, with nothing extra to pay inside.

  • While admiring these masterpieces, do not forget to witness Pio Fedi’s Freedom of Poetry, a marble statue symbolizing freedom of expression. It is believed that Freedom of Poetry inspired the Statue of Liberty of New York!

from
€11
Slide 1 of 10, Santa Croce Basilica facade in Florence, Italy, with tourists exploring the square.
Santa Croce Basilica facade in Florence, Italy, with tourists exploring the square.
1 hr 30 mins
  • Skip lines with timed entry and tour alongside a certified guide for a focused, well-paced visit to this landmark basilica in Florence.

  • Discover Franciscan heritage and Gothic design while your guide unpacks symbols, stories, and artistic choices woven into the church.

  • View Giotto’s frescoes up close and learn how the Bardi, Medici, and Pazzi Chapels shaped Florence’s religious and civic identity.

  • Pay respects at the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, contextualized within Renaissance culture and civic pride.

  • Headsets are offered if the participant group exceeds 7 members to keep narration clear during the 1.5-hour experience.

More details
  • Skip lines with timed entry and tour alongside a certified guide for a focused, well-paced visit to this landmark basilica in Florence.

  • Discover Franciscan heritage and Gothic design while your guide unpacks symbols, stories, and artistic choices woven into the church.

  • View Giotto’s frescoes up close and learn how the Bardi, Medici, and Pazzi Chapels shaped Florence’s religious and civic identity.

  • Pay respects at the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, contextualized within Renaissance culture and civic pride.

  • Headsets are offered if the participant group exceeds 7 members to keep narration clear during the 1.5-hour experience.

from
€44.90
Slide 1 of 11, Uffizi Gallery sculptures and Santa Croce Basilica in Florence, Italy.
Uffizi Gallery sculptures and Santa Croce Basilica in Florence, Italy.
Explore at your pace
  • Walk through 90+ rooms of the Uffizi at your own pace, from Cimabue's earliest panel paintings through to Botticelli, Leonardo, and Caravaggio, the collection follows the full arc of the Renaissance in sequence.

  • Cross the 500 metres to Santa Croce and skip the ticket counter entirely. The full complex is yours: basilica, chapels, cloisters, crypt, and museum, with nothing extra to pay at any point inside.

  • In the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels, Giotto painted the figures of St Francis and St John with a naturalism that had not existed in Western art before. These frescoes are the starting point of everything the Uffizi later brought to its peak.

  • The tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli are set into the nave walls. Each monument was designed in a different century — Galileo's was not erected until 95 years after his death.

  • Two sites most visitors split across separate days. This ticket is the reason to do both in one.

More details
  • Walk through 90+ rooms of the Uffizi at your own pace, from Cimabue's earliest panel paintings through to Botticelli, Leonardo, and Caravaggio, the collection follows the full arc of the Renaissance in sequence.

  • Cross the 500 metres to Santa Croce and skip the ticket counter entirely. The full complex is yours: basilica, chapels, cloisters, crypt, and museum, with nothing extra to pay at any point inside.

  • In the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels, Giotto painted the figures of St Francis and St John with a naturalism that had not existed in Western art before. These frescoes are the starting point of everything the Uffizi later brought to its peak.

  • The tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli are set into the nave walls. Each monument was designed in a different century — Galileo's was not erected until 95 years after his death.

  • Two sites most visitors split across separate days. This ticket is the reason to do both in one.

from Original price€51
€35.79

30% off

Slide 1 of 11, Open-top sightseeing bus in Florence and Basilica of Santa Croce.
Open-top sightseeing bus in Florence and Basilica of Santa Croce.
Explore at your pace
Audio guide
  • Hop on and off across 2 routes and 25+ stops in Florence for 24 hours, with an 8-language audio guide included on every bus.

  • The Blue Line covers Florence's historic centre: Santa Croce, Piazzale Michelangelo, and the artisan streets near Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral.

  • The Red Line reaches hill towns like Fiesole, the Museo del Calcio, and quieter residential neighbourhoods along the riverbank — a different side of the city from the same ticket.

  • Skip the ticket counter at Basilica di Santa Croce and walk straight in. One ticket covers the basilica, all chapels, the cloisters, the crypt, and the Opera Museum — including the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.

  • The bus stops directly at Santa Croce. No separate transport to arrange, no second ticket to buy at the door.

  • Tip: If you visit Calcio Museum at stop #6 on Line B, you could learn all about the history of Italy's national football team!

More details
  • Hop on and off across 2 routes and 25+ stops in Florence for 24 hours, with an 8-language audio guide included on every bus.

  • The Blue Line covers Florence's historic centre: Santa Croce, Piazzale Michelangelo, and the artisan streets near Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral.

  • The Red Line reaches hill towns like Fiesole, the Museo del Calcio, and quieter residential neighbourhoods along the riverbank — a different side of the city from the same ticket.

  • Skip the ticket counter at Basilica di Santa Croce and walk straight in. One ticket covers the basilica, all chapels, the cloisters, the crypt, and the Opera Museum — including the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.

  • The bus stops directly at Santa Croce. No separate transport to arrange, no second ticket to buy at the door.

  • Tip: If you visit Calcio Museum at stop #6 on Line B, you could learn all about the history of Italy's national football team!

from Original price€35.65
€33.87

5% off

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Book online in advance, especially during peak tourist season, to guarantee your preferred time slot and avoid long queues.

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About Basilica of Santa Croce

Santa Croce is a must-see for anyone exploring Florence’s rich tapestry of art and history. As part of the city’s essential cultural collection, it offers a unique journey through Renaissance masterpieces, monumental tombs, and the vibrant legacy of Florence’s most celebrated figures.


AddressPiazza di Santa Croce, 16, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Also known asTemple of the Italian Glories
Year opened1442
Founded byArnolfo di Cambio
Expected wait time - Standard30-60 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Did you know?

Santa Croce is known as the 'Temple of the Italian Glories' because it houses the tombs of Italy’s most illustrious artists, scientists, and thinkers.

Why visit Basilica of Santa Croce?

Resting Place of Italian Legends

Pay tribute to Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini, whose monumental tombs line the basilica’s aisles, making Santa Croce a true pantheon of Italian genius.

Plan your visit

Largo Bargellini Entrance (Main Visitor Entrance)

This is the official entrance for all ticketed visitors, located on the north flank of the basilica at Largo Bargellini. Look for the Opera di Santa Croce ticket office and entry gate. Please note: access is via several steps, and there are no elevators or ramps, so wheelchair access is unfortunately limited. Staff are available to assist with entry and ticket checks. This entrance is also used for guided tours and audio guide rentals.

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What our guests say

Grethel R

United States
Family
3 weeks ago
The gallery has a very good selection of artwork. I really enjoyed seeing works of art that I only saw in history books as a student. The staff are very welcoming and speak English, so it really helps. Even though there's a long line to get in, it goes by very fast because staff is very efficient and getting people in. Overall, I highly recommend coming to this gallery if you are in Florence. It is definitely going to be the highlight of your trip seeing all the amazing artwork there. I did give it four instead of five stars because it was hot inside the museum. Even though they had air conditioning on, it wasn't enough and it was pretty hot while walking around the gallery. We like imitating the paintings when we go to the galleries as you could see in the photos below!

Combo: Uffizi Gallery + Basilica Santa Croce Skip-the-Line Tickets

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