Santa Croce
Italy
As you stroll through the trendy Santa Croce district you’ll experience the mediaeval tradition of wine windows where you’ll take a shot of either limoncello or a typical Italian amaro.
Contents
10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Piazza di Santa Croce, standing before the majestic Basilica di Santa Croce. This site is not merely a church; it is the 'Temple of Italian Glories,' the final resting place of some of the most profound thinkers,…
Listen in the app2Michelangelo's Final Journey — A Master's Return
As we enter the basilica and move down the right aisle, we encounter the magnificent tomb of Michelangelo Buonarroti. The story of his burial here is as dramatic as his art. …
Listen in the app3Galileo Galilei — From Heretic to Hero
Opposite Michelangelo's tomb lies the final resting place of Galileo Galilei, the father of modern science. This monument is a testament to the changing relationship between science and the church. …
Listen in the app4The Prince in Exile — The Tomb of Machiavelli
Moving further along the aisle, we come to the tomb of Niccolo Machiavelli, the author of 'The Prince' and the father of modern political science. Machiavelli's life was one of political turbulence; he served the Florentine…
Listen in the app5Dante's Empty Tomb — The Poet's Cenotaph
One of the most imposing monuments in Santa Croce is dedicated to the 'Sommo Poeta,' Dante Alighieri. However, you might be surprised to learn that this is a cenotaph—an empty tomb. …
Listen in the app6The Art of Giotto and Gaddi — The Baroncelli Chapel
In the back of the basilica, the side chapels contain some of the most important artworks of the early Renaissance. Of particular note is the Baroncelli Chapel, which features incredible frescoes painted by Taddeo Gaddi between…
Listen in the app7Donatello's Annunciation and the Crucifix
Santa Croce is also home to significant works by the great sculptor Donatello. One of the most beautiful is the 'Cavalcanti Annunciation,' a gilded stone relief located on the right wall of the nave. …
Listen in the app8The Pazzi Chapel — Brunelleschi's Harmony
Exiting the main church into the first cloister, we encounter the Pazzi Chapel, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Built around 1443, it was most likely designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the same legendary architect who…
Listen in the app9The 1966 Flood and the Cimabue Crucifix
Our journey through Santa Croce must also acknowledge a more recent chapter of its history: the devastating Arno flood of November 1966. Santa Croce, being in one of the lowest-lying parts of the city, was particularly hard hit. …
Listen in the app10Closing
As we conclude our journey through the Basilica of Santa Croce, we are left with a profound sense of the human achievement that is concentrated within these walls. We have walked among the tombs of the giants of the…
Listen in the app
What is Santa Croce?
Santa Croce is a place in Italy with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 10 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 43.7685, 11.2625 |
| Last updated |
Nearby places
within a 5-minute walk
Basilica of Santa CroceHeritage12 sections
Santa Croce Basilica, FlorenceContent1 sections
National Central Library of FlorenceHeritage9 sections
Buonarroti House, FlorenceContent1 sectionsVerrocchio's Workshop (approx.)Content1 sections
Sant'Ambrogio MarketContent1 sections
Piazza of Santa CroceContent1 sections
Via San NiccolòContent1 sections