Guided Tours

Basilica of Santa Croce Guided Tour

4.8/5(11)

Julio B

Group

Verified booking

Last week

Everything about Santa Croce was interesting. The history, the mausoleums and the private chapels. So much so that my mother went again to see in more detail. The tour was about an hour and a half but that is not enough to appreciate everything that is inside the curch and the monastery. Highly recommended.

Martha N

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Francesca was an excellent guide; she shared very detailed information with us, was always very friendly, and made the tour very enjoyable. I would definitely book this tour again.

Osnat O

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

An interesting and knowledgeable tour by Francesca. Francesca conveys her extensive knowledge pleasantly with a lot of goodwill so that we will enjoy the tour in particular and Florence in general. Thank you very much!

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.

Fast-track entry tickets to the Basilica of Santa Croce

Certified professional tour guide in English or Italian (as per option selected)

Headphones to hear the guide (for groups with more than 7 participants)

Food and drinks

Gratuities

Hotel transfers

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

11 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Martha N
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Francesca was an excellent guide; she shared very detailed information with us, was always very friendly, and made the tour very enjoyable. I would definitely book this tour again.
Julio B
Group
Verified booking
Last week
Everything about Santa Croce was interesting. The history, the mausoleums and the private chapels. So much so that my mother went again to see in more detail. The tour was about an hour and a half but that is not enough to appreciate everything that is inside the curch and the monastery. Highly recommended.
Richard S
Couple
Verified booking
Sep 2026
Our tour guide Ivan was fantastic. Great story telling and educational insights told in a fun way!
Osnat O
Couple
Verified booking
Aug 2026
An interesting and knowledgeable tour by Francesca. Francesca conveys her extensive knowledge pleasantly with a lot of goodwill so that we will enjoy the tour in particular and Florence in general. Thank you very much!
Jane J
Solo
Verified booking
3 days ago

Fast-track entry and a guide-led route reveal Santa Croce’s chapels, frescoes, and famed tombs in 1.5 hours.

Getting started

Meet your guide by the statue of Dante Alighieri in front of the basilica for ticket checks and a short introduction. After security, join your small group and receive headsets if the group size requires them.

What to expect

This basilica is a major Franciscan church known for its Gothic architecture and influential art. Inside, your guide connects Florence’s civic history to masterpieces and memorials that shaped the city’s identity.

Features

Giotto’s frescoes – See pivotal cycles and learn how technique and narrative transformed Florentine painting.

Pazzi Chapel – Understand Brunelleschi, the architect's design and symbolism within the basilica’s spiritual and artistic program.

Tombs of luminaries – Visit memorials to Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli and hear why they rest here.

Bardi Chapel – Explore patronage, Medici family influence, and the artworks that defined their legacy.

What's not allowed

Pets, except service animals

Accessibility

Wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility can access the basilica and cloister via a ramp on the north side (Largo Bargellini) and a raised platform at the cloister exit onto Piazza Santa Croce.

Additional information

Visitors are requested to dress modestly covering their knees and shoulders before entering the basilica.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.