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Florence

Florence: Santa Croce Basilica Guided Tour

Trusted PartnerGuided Tour

See iconic renaissance frescoes and the tombs of Galileo and Machiavelli with an expert

Trusted PartnerGuided Tour

5.0

(2)

1 h 30 min

Max 15 Guests

Finding your way alone through Santa Croce Basilica, one of the largest churches in Florence, means missing its famous features. With a provided guide and ticket, this tour leads you straight to the Renaissance artworks and historic memorials that matter most. Learn how art changed over time while visiting the tombs of Italy's most famous scientists and artists. You will visit the Bardi Chapel and stand by the final resting places of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli.

What's included

Included:

Santa Croce Basilica entry tickets

Included:

Expert English-speaking guide

Included:

Access to the Pazzi Chapel

Included:

Giotto frescos

Included:

Italy’s Hall of Fame

Not included:

Guide tips

Itinerary

Meet your guide at Piazza di Santa Croce

Your tour starts in the square right outside the church. After meeting your guide by the Dante statue, you'll learn a bit about the area's history before heading inside the building to start the tour of the interior.

See the tombs of famous Italians

Next, you'll walk through the main part of the church to find the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Your guide explains who these people were and why their monuments are so important to the history of Italy.

Visit the chapels and cloisters

Then, you will go into the side chapels to see the old frescoes painted by Giotto. You’ll also walk out to the cloisters to see the Pazzi Chapel, which is famous for its simple and balanced Renaissance architecture.

Your tour finishes at the museum

Finally, you will see the Cimabue Crucifix in the museum area. The tour ends here, which puts you in a great spot to go check out the local neighborhood nearby.

For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change

Select participants and date

Start times are in the product’s local time

Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!

Sun, 01 Nov 2026

Meeting and drop-off point

Meet your guide in Santa Croce Square, directly in front of the basilica facade under the large Statue of Dante. The tour concludes within the basilica complex.

Important Details

Good to know:

Dress Code: Santa Croce is a place of worship, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Guests who do not meet the dress code may be refused entry by security officials. Please refrain from wearing sports jerseys or athletic tops.
Accessibility: This experience is wheelchair accessible, though some areas include uneven floors and historic surfaces. Please reach out to us in advance if you have any mobility concerns.
Bag Policy: Entrance to the basilica is not allowed with helmets, glass objects, large backpacks, or luggage.
Please Note: Visitors are asked to behave appropriately and observe silence inside the church.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.

Your 1.5-hour tour includes:

Expert English-speaking guide
Entrance tickets to Santa Croce Basilica
Audio headsets
Maximum group size of 15

What to bring:

Comfortable walking shoes
Clothing that covers knees and shoulders

See what people are saying

2 verified ratings

Santa Croce

Troy N.

Verified Review

October 01, 2026

The Tour Guide was excellent. She had great knowledge of the history of the site. I would highly recommend for family and friends.

Great Experience

Anthony Z.

Verified Review

May 15, 2026

We had a great experience on this tour. The church was amazing and there is so much inside to learn about. Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo all in one location made it very interesting. We lucked out and were the only 3 people on the tour so we got to ask more questions and spend a bit more time on things we found interesting. Our guide was brilliant and did an amazing job covering the history and stories of the exhibits. 10/10, this was one of the best tours we did this week largely due to our guide.

FAQs

Where to meet?

Meet your guide in Santa Croce Square, directly in front of the basilica facade under the large Statue of Dante. The tour concludes within the basilica complex.

Is this tour family friendly?

Yes, children are welcome to join the tour. Strollers are allowed inside the building.

What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?

This tour is wheelchair and stroller accessible as the church and cloisters are mostly flat. Just be aware that there are some old, uneven stone floors like you would find in most historic buildings.

What time should I arrive?

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the tour starts. This gives your guide enough time to check everyone in and hand out the headsets so the tour can start on time.

Are there restrictions on what I can bring inside?

For security reasons, large backpacks, luggage, and glass objects are not permitted inside the basilica. We recommend bringing a small bag and leaving larger items at your accommodation.

Florence: Santa Croce Basilica Guided Tour

What's included

Itinerary

Meet your guide at Piazza di Santa Croce

See the tombs of famous Italians

Visit the chapels and cloisters

Your tour finishes at the museum

Select participants and date

Meeting and drop-off point

Important Details

Good to know:

Your 1.5-hour tour includes:

What to bring:

See what people are saying

FAQs

Where to meet?

Is this tour family friendly?

What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?

What time should I arrive?

Are there restrictions on what I can bring inside?

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