The church of Santa Croce

Founded in the thirteenth century, the Gothic church of Santa Croce is the "Mausoleum of the illustrious Italians". Among others, Michelangelo and Galileo Galilei are buried here, and it preserves magnificent 14th century frescoes by Giotto and his school. 

Founded by the Franciscan order, in what at the time was a vast meadow just outside the city walls, it was later enlarged and renovated by the Florentine architect Arnolfo di Cambio. It was the rich Florentine families who financed the work, in exchange for the naming of some chapels inside the church, for which they commissioned the most important artists of the time the rich fresco decorations.

The massive pillars in pietra forte, the very high pointed arches and the marvelous trussed ceiling tell us the story of a time when Florence was preparing to become a great economic and political power and the driving force behind the greatest and most amazing artistic innovations as it is known today throughout the world.

"I had reached that level of emotion where the heavenly sensations given by the arts and the passionate feelings meet. On leaving Santa Croce I had a heartbeat, life for me had dried up, I walked fearing to fall."

- Stendhal