Museums & galleries
Basilica of Santa Croce
The Basilica di Santa Croce is a minor basilica and the principal Franciscan church of Florence, Italy. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres (2,600 ft) southeast of the Duomo, on what was once marshland beyond the city walls. Being the burial place of notable Italians, including those from the Italian Renaissance such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, as well as the poet Foscolo, political philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, it is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories.
Basilica of Santa Croce
Santa Croce is the main Franciscan church in Florence, best known as the burial place of major Italian historical figures — Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and the composer Rossini are all interred here, which is why it's often called the "Temple of the Italian Glories." Beyond the tombs, the complex includes cloisters and a museum space attached to the church, with frescoes and artwork from across several centuries.
Getting there
The basilica sits on Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres southeast of the Duomo. From the city centre it's a flat, straightforward walk of roughly 10-15 minutes; most visitors reach it on foot rather than by bus or taxi.
How much time to allow
Plan on at least an hour for the church and tombs. If you also want to see the attached museum and cloisters, allow closer to two hours.
When to go
The piazza and church draw steady crowds, especially around midday and in peak season (spring through early autumn). Arriving earlier in the day tends to mean fewer groups inside.
Combine it with
- Casa Buonarroti (0.2km) — a small museum on Michelangelo, an easy add-on given the proximity.
- Bargello National Museum (0.4km) — sculpture collection, a short walk away.
- Museo Galileo (0.5km) — fitting given Galileo's tomb is inside Santa Croce.
- Vasari Corridor (0.5km) — worth checking current access arrangements before planning a visit.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
