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Basilica di Santa Croce: Traveler Reviews

Piazza Santa Croce 16, Florence, Italy
+39-055-246-6105
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Ranked #11 of 176 attractions in Florence
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Type: Religious Sites, Cemeteries, Historic Sites, Architectural Buildings, Museums
Fee: Yes
Recommended length of visit: <1 hour
Owner description: This is the richest medieval church in Florence, which features frescoes by Giotto, a chapel by Brunelleschi and one of the finest of all early... more » Owner description: This is the richest medieval church in Florence, which features frescoes by Giotto, a chapel by Brunelleschi and one of the finest of all early Renaissance tombs. « less
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1,107 reviews from our community

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Scotland
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
“Fascinating but a mess”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed January 18, 2013

A far more interesting church than the black and white OTT Duomo, individually wonderful pieces, unfortunately a great deal of the frescoes etc covered in scaffolding when we visited, but it has no real feeling of grandeur. It's like a grand Italian market squabble with no sense of cohesion. Each contributor to the interior has done his thing with his own bit and to hell with contributing to the totality of the structure you can almost see the sculptors thumbing their noses at each other in perpetuity from either side of the church.
I too was a pilgrim to the tombs of those greats Galileo, Michelangelo and the plaques to such greats as Marconi but they only illustrate that those who presumed to decorate the last resting places of these immortals weren't in the same class at all.
Visit you should but the glories of Florence lie elsewhere

Visited May 2012
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Nairn, United Kingdom
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“So much to see”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 18, 2013

Close to our hotel, Lucchesi, so a welcome sight to see without too much effort. Relaxing church to look around without the crowds.

Visited September 2012
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Melbourne, Australia
Senior Contributor
43 reviews 43 reviews
9 attraction reviews
Reviews in 28 cities Reviews in 28 cities
20 helpful votes 20 helpful votes
“History, History Everywhere”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 17, 2013

Amazing place tucked away at the end of a fairly non descript square. Worth visiting for the tombs alone; our 15 year old son was most impressed with these.

Visited October 2012
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Dapto, Australia
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
14 attraction reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
“Tombs of my heroes”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 17, 2013

I sought out this particular basilica to pay my respects at the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo. I ended up staying for a few hours, blown away by the art and beauty of the place. Wandering around, finding Brunelleschi's room and sitting in the cloisters, watching the rain...then, when I left, there was a gorgeous christmas market outside in the square. A fantastic experience, and one of my very favourite memories of all time.

Visited December 2012
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Costa Mesa, California
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
“Very Special Place”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 13, 2013

The church is so quiet and wonderful, I think it was one of my most memorable moments in Italy. I went really early before the lame tourists arrived (who snap 3 dozen photos of themselves in moronic poses, then leave without even knowing where they are) so that I can really walk around and reflect on the historical significance of those laid to rest at Santa Croce.

Visited December 2012
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