Santa Croce Church Guided Tour in Florence – Florence, Italy

EXPERIENCE:

The tour begins in the main square, the location of the annual Calcio Storico Florentino, a well-known soccer match played in medieval garb. You will learn a lot about history and Michelangelo’s life during this tour. The magnificent frescoes by Giotto in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels depict scenes from the lives of St. Francis and St. John the Evangelist, while Gaddi’s frescoes (1380) in the Cappella Maggiore depict the legend of “Santa Croce.” Your guide will go into great detail about the immense artistic wealth in Santa Croce.

The statue of the 19th-century playwright Giovanni Battista Niccolini, which served as an inspiration for the Statue of Liberty, can be found on your way to the left of the entrance. Learn about the artwork of Brunelleschi and the flawless architectural harmony of his Chapel of Fools as you walk through the revered walls, as well as the artwork of Donatello and his crucifix, one of the crown jewels of the Renaissance.

The Church also bears the scars of history, including those caused by the tragic flood of 1966, which destroyed the monumental cemetery and damaged several paintings. The cemetery was later restored and is included in this tour. After touring the interior, the guide will explain the exterior, which is clad in a polychrome marble façade. The guide will then take you on a tour of the Bell Tower, Crypt, and 16 Chapels. After the tour, which lasts about an hour, you can go back and see anything you might want to see again.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Visit the temple of the Italian Glories
Burial place of several Florentine and Italian masters such as Michelangelo
Admire the works by Donatello
Admire the monument dedicated to Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy

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