Santa Croce Guided Tour, Pantheon of Italian Glories

In Florence in the early 13th century, a group of Franciscan friars set up just outside the city fortifications. They were devoted to defending faith through preaching, as well as helping the poor living outside the city walls.

Their presence correlated with major socioeconomic shifts that occurred in Florence during the 13th and early 14th centuries. Meanwhile, Florence’s most influential banking families began contributing to the construction and decoration of the chapels for a new course in Italian and European painting.

Prepare for an exclusive, unveiled tour of the Franciscan Basilica of Santa Croce, a magnificent representation of Florence's rich cultural heritage.

The Franciscan Basilica of Santa Croce 

The church, a memoir to Franciscan spirit, a Pantheon of Italian Glories and a must see during the Grand Tour, is situated on the East side of the city. Its construction began in c.1295 by Florence’s archistar Arnolfo di Cambio and is one of the architecturally most important gothic churches in Florence, with works of art from the 14th to the 19th century. 

The first thing that strikes upon entering the basilica is the size of the building. There is a sense of majesty and reverence due to the high, vaulted ceilings that are decorated with intricate frescoes. Moving through the nave, attention is drawn to the monumental tombstones. These tributes honor some of Italy's greatest minds, including Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli.

The chapels that flank the nave are our next destination. They each contain magnificent artworks by the great masters. A stunning crucifix by Cimabue adorns the Sacristy, marking a shift from traditional Byzantine style towards more realistic and emotionally expressive representations of religious subjects. The Pazzi Chapel, designed by the legendary architect Brunelleschi, is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, its harmonious proportions and elegant simplicity reflecting the ideals of the time.

Continuing into the basilica, you reach the transept, where you encounter the awe-inspiring frescoes by Giotto. The Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels showcase Giotto's masterful storytelling, depicting scenes from the lives of Saint Francis and Saint John the Evangelist. The vibrancy and emotional depth of these frescoes leave you transfixed, transporting you back to the 14th century.

In the wave of Romanticism, the basilica was regarded as a must stop for visitors who came to Florence as part of their educational journey known as the Grand Tour. French writer Stendhal documented his experience in Santa Croce  in 1817, describing the overwhelming emotions he felt when faced with art and beauty of the city. He was moved by the frescoes and artwork within the basilica, expressing a profound sense of aesthetic pleasure and emotional intensity. The sheer concentration of artistic masterpieces in Florence, combined with Stendhal’s sensitivity to beauty, led to what we now refer to “Stendhal Syndrome”, also known as “Florence Syndrome” where the observer experiences physical and emotional symptoms in response to overwhelming beauty.

Leaving the basilica, you can't help but feel a sense of awe and gratitude for the opportunity to experience its hidden wonders. The Franciscan Basilica of Santa Croce stands as a testament to the power of human creativity, spirituality, and the enduring legacy of Florence's cultural heritage.

Around Santa Croce

The great square once used for preaching by the Franciscans was in the Renaissance used by the Medici for games and still hosts today one of its century-old  trademark traditions, the Calcio Storico Fiorentino. As part of the celebration of Florence’s patron saint , John the Baptist, Calcio Storico Fiorentino is held annually in June, a tradition dating back to the sixteenth century that puts the four districts the Romans divided Florence into head-to-head in a game that mixes football, rugby and wrestling. This game was invented by Romans to train their troops and conserved by Florentines who still play it every year in the Piazza Santa Croce.

About the tour

• Get ready for an adventure into Florence’s religious history.

• A historic adventure through the Church of Santa Croce.

• A stroll in the local and lively quarter of Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio market.