Skip-the-Line Tickets to Santa Croce Basilica Complex

An exhilarating experience with your imagination guiding you through the cloisters and the chapels of the complex, this skip the line ticket would ensure you explore all in a day while saving you from the ticketing queue.

Getting Started

Arrive at the visitor entrance of Santa Basilica Croce, situated towards its north in Largo Bargellini and present your tickets to directly enter the complex.

What to Expect

The complex is a mosaic of Italian Gothic architecture with the basilica, the Pazzi Chapel, and the Medici chapel reflecting centuries of cultural preservation. The Refectory retells stories of shared meals among the friars while hosting masterpieces such as Donatella’s St Louis of Toulouse and Taddeo Gaddi’s Tree of Life and Last Supper. Exploring the complex further you would also get a chance to pay your respects to the resting places of legends such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli on this tour.

Features

Santa Basilica Croce exhibits a standout feature of displaying evolution of various art themes such as Taddeo Gaddi’s Last Supper and Giorgio Vasari’s Last Supper painted 200 years apart from each other. While admiring these masterpieces, do not forget to witness Pio Fedi’s Freedom of Poetry, a marble statue symbolizing freedom of expression. It is believed that Freedom of Poetry inspired the Statue of Liberty of New York!

Skip-the-Line Tickets to Santa Croce Basilica Complex

Discover the historic Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence on this sightseeing tour that includes skip-the-line access and an optional audio guide available in five languages. The tour covers a vast complex with numerous landmarks, including the main basilica, chapels, and tombs. Founded in 1294, Santa Croce is one of Florence's most significant religious buildings, known for housing the remains of famous Italians such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini. The complex spans 35,000 square meters, featuring a main basilica with dimensions of 116 by 48 meters. Visitors can admire Cimabue’s Crucifix from around 1270 and Gaddi’s Last Supper, painted in the early 14th century. The tour allows you to explore the entire complex at your own pace for up to two hours, providing a comprehensive understanding of Florence's rich history and artistry.

Explore Basilica of Santa Croce

Your tour stops at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence where guests can marvel at its intricate Gothic architecture and historical significance. Established in 1294 by Friar Ristoro da Campi, this basilica stands as one of Italy's largest Franciscan churches with dimensions measuring 116 meters long and 48 meters wide. Inside, visitors will see the Cimabue Crucifix from around 1270, Gaddi’s Last Supper painted in the early 14th century, and frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi dating back to the mid-1300s. The basilica houses over 50 tombs, including those of notable figures such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini. Guests typically spend about an hour exploring this expansive complex, which is unique compared to other Florentine churches due to its size and historical importance.

Experience Santa Croce Chapels

The tour continues at the chapels within the Basilica of Santa Croce where guests can delve into detailed frescoes and sculptures. The Pazzi Chapel, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century, features a dome measuring 20 meters across with intricate marble decorations. Nearby is the Brancacci Chapel, famous for its cycle of paintings by Masaccio from around 1427, depicting scenes like St. Peter Healing the Cripple and The Tribute Money. Visitors typically spend about 30 minutes exploring these chapels, appreciating their historical significance and artistic value.

Discover Santa Croce Tombs

Your tour then leads you to the numerous tombs within the Basilica of Santa Croce where guests can pay respects to some of Italy's most revered artists, scientists, and thinkers. Notable among them are Michelangelo’s tomb with a sculpture by Giorgio Vasari from 1564, Galileo’s tomb adorned with an astronomical globe added in 1737, and Machiavelli’s memorial plaque installed in the early 20th century. The tombs serve as poignant reminders of Florence's cultural heritage and intellectual achievements.

Tour Highlights

• Skip-the-line access at Santa Croce Basilica
• Up to two hours to explore the complex freely
• Audio guide available in 5 languages (English, Italian, French, German, Spanish)
• Admire historic artworks such as Cimabue’s Crucifix and Gaddi’s Last Supper
• Explore chapels with frescoes by Masaccio and Taddeo Gaddi
• Discover tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini
• Enjoy immersive experience through audio guide in multiple languages
• Convenient access to all areas within the complex

Perfect for history enthusiasts, art lovers, and tourists seeking a deeper understanding of Florence's cultural heritage, this skip-the-line tour provides unparalleled access to Santa Croce Basilica. The two-hour format allows you to explore the main basilica, chapels with frescoes by Masaccio and Taddeo Gaddi, and tombs housing Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini, offering a comprehensive insight into Florence's rich history and artistic legacy.