The Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica di Santa Croce) is Italy's greatest Franciscan temple. It is called a place of special historical value, a museum of great works of art, the Pantheon of Italian glory. The history of the Basilica of the Florence Church of the Holy Cross was laid in 1294, on the site of a pre-existing church. Consecrated in 1442 by Eugene IV. There is a legend that Santa Croce himself founded St. Francis, though.
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The Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica di Santa Croce) is Italy's greatest Franciscan temple. It is called a place of special historical value, a museum of great works of art, the Pantheon of Italian glory.
Basilica history
The Florentine church of the Holy Cross was laid in 1294, on the site of a pre-existing church. Consecrated in 1442 by Eugene IV. There is a legend that St. Francis himself founded Santa Croce, although in reality the construction of the basilica began after his death. Arnolfo di Cambio is considered the author of the building project, although there is no documentary evidence of this version.
Several times the church had to be restored after the floods, which caused her considerable damage. The temple was rebuilt, but its Gothic features were carefully preserved. Today, Santa Croce is considered a reference example of Italian Gothic.
Architecture
Santa Croce Basilica - Pantheon of Italian Glory
The facade of the church for a long time remained unfinished. On the old images you can see the medieval appearance of the temple - a simple, almost devoid of decor. The new facade was created in 1853-63. Nicolo Mattas is modeled after the largest Gothic temples in Siena and Orvieto. In the 19th century, the 80-meter bell tower of the church was built according to the design of Gaetano Bakkani. The bronze gates of the central portal of the basilica were installed only in 1903.
The Santa Croce Temple is a three-nave, it is divided by two rows of powerful faceted columns carrying lancet semi-arches. The building in plan is a T-shaped cross with an apse and transept. The transept width is 73 m; the length of the main nave is 115 meters. The interiors of the church are designed by Giorgio Vasari.
Central nave
Central nave, photo by Franco Beccari
The central nave is well lit by the sun through many stained glass windows. Stained-glass windows of the 14th-15th centuries have been preserved in the basilica. the work of Agnolo Gaddy. The high main altar is very beautiful, decorated with the polyptych of the Madonna and Saints, the work of Jerini, crowned with the crucifix of Cimabue.
Chapels
Interior of the temple, photo turbofan
There are eighteen chapels in the temple. In the Big Chapel you can see the frescoes of the work of Gaddy's "Finding the Holy Cross." The murals of the chapels of Peruzzi and Bardi were made by the great Giotto. The frescoes in the chapel of Bardi depict scenes of the life of Francis of Asis. The pulpit depicting scenes of the saint’s life is also framed by the pulpit (these bas-reliefs were made by Benedetto de Mayano in 1472-76). In the chapel of Bardi di Vernio, a genuine wooden crucifix by Donatello is preserved.
In the Medici Chapel, designed by Miquelozzo by order of Cosimo I, on the altar there is a terracotta figure of the Madonna and Child (sculptor Andrea della Robbia). There is an exit to the sacristy from this chapel. The walls of the vault were painted by Nicolo Gerini, Taddeo Gaddy and Spinello Areretino.
Frescoes
Frescoes, photo happy. apple
In the Middle Ages, all the walls of the basilica were covered with frescoes, but not all priceless murals, among which there were many works of the great Giotto, were preserved during the plague. In the temple, then an infirmary was arranged for the sick; its walls had to be whitewashed. Frescoes were discovered only during restoration.
Pantheon
The Church of Santa Croce was the first Renaissance funeral monument. On the floor there are rows of tombstones (they are installed above the sarcophagi). Most of the tombs is a high bed of marble with a figure of the deceased placed on it, with an arch resting on columns.
Tomb of Galileo Galilei
In Santa Croce, eminent Florentines, great people of Italy and foreign nationals are buried. The sculptural decoration of the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Niccolo Machiavelli, Gioacchino Rossini, Foscolo, Marconi amazes with amazing plasticity and bright elegiac mood. Each tombstone of Santa Croce is a work of art; all the tombs are made by renowned craftsmen of their time. In total, more than three hundred famous people are buried in the basilica.
Opening hours
Mon - Sat 9:30 - 17:00.
Entrance Ticket Price
Full - € 6.00;
for children 11 to 17 years old - € 4.00;
children under 11 years old - free of charge.
Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica di Santa Croce)
Piazza Santa Croce, 16 50122 Firenze Italy
santacroceopera.itTake bus 03 to the stop Magliabechi
