Florence Santa Croce Church Tour

About this tour

Start the tour in the main square, where the famous soccer game played in medieval costumes, the Calcio Storico Florentino takes place every year in June. Your guide will describe in detail all the immense artistic wealth in Santa Croce; frescoes (1380) by Gaddi in the Cappella Maggiore tell the story of “Santa Croce”, and beautiful frescoes by Giotto in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels show scenes from the life of St. Francis and St. John the Evangelist.

On your way to the left of the entrance, see the memorial of the 19th-century playwright Giovanni Battista Niccolini built as an inspiration for the Statue of Liberty. As you walk through the hallowed walls, learn about the art of Donatello and his crucifix, one of the jewels of the Renaissance, as well as the art of Brunelleschi and the perfect architectural harmony of his Chapel of Fools.

See the monumental cemetery and damaged paintings that were destroyed in the tragic flood of 1966 and have been subsequently restored. After visiting the interior, learn about the exterior which is covered with a polychrome marble façade. Finally, the guide will tour you around the Bell Tower, the Crypt, and the 16 chapels. The tour takes about an hour, and you will have the opportunity to return to anything you might want to see again after the tour ends.

Enhance your experience by upgrading to a wine-tasting option. Join a wine expert to taste different Tuscan wines while enjoying a platter of Tuscan appetizers.