Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria Maggiore
4
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The area
Neighborhood: Duomo
Florentia, as it was called by Latins, is permeated by an eternal beauty spread in all corners of the city. The historic center is characterized by the immensity of the Duomo, able to transport tourists into the brightest age of Florence: the Renaissance. Who does not know the Brunelleschi Dome, San Giovanni Baptistery and the Giotto’s Campanile? Everything is enclosed here and it would be easy to imagine the city as it was in ancient times, with maids walking in the main square and horses carrying coaches. Nowadays, roads are busy with street artists. Rustic Tuscan bakeries give way to fashion shops; just stop for a few minutes in the middle of Piazza della Repubblica to enjoy the colors and sweet melody of the carousel that will bring back great memories from anyone’s childhood.
How to get there
- Alamanni-Stazione Santa Maria Novella • 9 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
158 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
70
Average
38
Poor
5
Terrible
0
Brad
Hong Kong, China174,517 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This is one of Florence's oldest churches situated along Via de' Cerretani. It is open from 8am to 8pm daily and is free to visit. The church history dates back to the the 8th century while the present building was constructed in the 11th-century. Major restorations in the 13th-century provides the Romanesque and Gothic characteristics that you see today including the subtle, bleak exterior.
The interior includes a central nave with arched vaults. Side aisles feature ceiling frescos and nice altarpieces. The artworks are nice for viewing and you will see a couple of tombs of note as well. All can be leisurely viewed in 10 minutes or so, making Santa Maria Maggiore a nice stop if you enjoy visiting old churches during your travels. You can conveniently pop in while doing the rounds along Via de' Cerretani.
The interior includes a central nave with arched vaults. Side aisles feature ceiling frescos and nice altarpieces. The artworks are nice for viewing and you will see a couple of tombs of note as well. All can be leisurely viewed in 10 minutes or so, making Santa Maria Maggiore a nice stop if you enjoy visiting old churches during your travels. You can conveniently pop in while doing the rounds along Via de' Cerretani.
Written April 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China174,517 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
Santa Maria Maggiore (free entry) is one of many church visits you can make in the Historic Centre of Florence. This is an early 10th century house of worship situated in between Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), San Lorenzo and Santa Maria Novella and can be conveniently visited for those who have time and enjoy church visits.
The exterior facade of Santa Maria Maggiore was never finished, leaving a rough stone appearance from the outside. The interior of the church is rather dimly lit but features 17th-18th century frescos, paintings, stucco work and other period items. The aisle chapels are more decorative than the nave and alter, all of which can be conveniently seen in 15-20 minutes time.
Overall, the artworks are nice to see at Santa Maria Maggiore but they are not critical, nor as memorable as what you will encounter elsewhere in Florence. As such, if you are short on time, we'd suggest taking a pass and focusing on other places that interest you. However, if you have extra time, you might want to make a quick stop here.
The exterior facade of Santa Maria Maggiore was never finished, leaving a rough stone appearance from the outside. The interior of the church is rather dimly lit but features 17th-18th century frescos, paintings, stucco work and other period items. The aisle chapels are more decorative than the nave and alter, all of which can be conveniently seen in 15-20 minutes time.
Overall, the artworks are nice to see at Santa Maria Maggiore but they are not critical, nor as memorable as what you will encounter elsewhere in Florence. As such, if you are short on time, we'd suggest taking a pass and focusing on other places that interest you. However, if you have extra time, you might want to make a quick stop here.
Written April 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg H
Charlottesville, VA73 contributions
May 2014 • Family
A very old church hidden amongst the twisting streets and trendy shops. Nothing near as famous or as significant as the Duomo or Santa Maria Novella, but worth a stop because it's a welcomed break and a chance to sit in a church that's been there for nearly 850 years.
Written May 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vacationer24balt
Baltimore, MD35 contributions
May 2013 • Family
Many of the icons of art history are located in this church. The chapels are wonderful and have excellent examples of famous artists who were commissioned to work on the decorative elements of this church. Do miss the Spanish Chapel. I love the images of the dogs in the fresco.
Written June 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MigsDeManille
Florence, Italy915 contributions
Mar 2013 • Friends
A small church that most tourists disregarded because the Florence cathedral (Duomo) dominates the view. However inside the church, the frescoes on the ceilings are absolutely beautiful, fine architecture and serene.
Written March 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLnurseER
Boca Raton, FL5,621 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
Small church by Florentine standards that has the honor of being called the oldest church. Not much to look at from the outside, it holds some interesting things inside including a tomb of the renowned philosopher, scholar and Dante’s adopted father Brunetto Latini. It opens at 7 am, but closes at 12 for siesta, then opens again from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm.
Written September 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RonL40
Utica, NY3,592 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
Refreshing for Florence because you find real parishioners offering worship here. Not a museum church, the exterior is unfinished simple Gothic. On the interior, there are interesting frescoes that reveal a glimpse of the 11th century. Beautiful place to simply contemplate the centuries since.
Written November 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ibadanboy
Nairobi, Kenya5,997 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
The Santa Maria Maggiore is a small unassuming church on Piazza Santa maria Maggiore in Florence. Less glamorous than her sister churches in Florence the Santa Maria Maggiore has lovely frescoes and artwork on the inside. Nice!
Written May 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy Winn
Blyth, UK1,194 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
Here we are in the 21st Century looking back to the 14th.
Stop and try and imagine how you can change your life and that of others to reflect how they in the 14th Century belived the world ought to be.
Its beautful inside....quite different from the consumer orientated world on the outside....
Stop and try and imagine how you can change your life and that of others to reflect how they in the 14th Century belived the world ought to be.
Its beautful inside....quite different from the consumer orientated world on the outside....
Written March 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amsullyhotmail
Milwaukee, WI310 contributions
Nov 2015 • Solo
I stumbled upon this Cathedral by chance. It's very unassuming from the outside. Curious, I went inside. I found the frescos and artwork to be quite beautiful and took many pictures. Many reviews read that it pales in comparison but I was glad I stopped and took a peek.
Written December 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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