Santa Croce Private Tour: Discover Secrets of the World's Largest Franciscan Church in Florence
5.0
10 Ratings
Firenze
Uncover the secrets of Santa Croce, the world's largest Franciscan church in Florence, on a private tour. Learn about famous Italians buried there and discover intriguing stories behind medieval graves, Dante's empty grave, Michelangelo's stolen body, Galileo Galilei's secret burial, and Stendhal's syndrome.
Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Santa Croce - Inside Santa Croce you will:

  • Hear the stories about the biggest Franciscan church in the world and enjoy looking at its marvellous masterpieces;

  • Step on Medieval graves of Florentine aristocrats and learn why some of them have sculls and crossbones engraved;

  • Learn the mystery about Dante’s empty grave;

  • Discover where the Statue of Liberty originates from;

  • Hear the story how Michelangelo’s body was stolen from Rome;

  • Learn all the details of the intricate story of Galileo Galilei and discover the place where he was secretly buried for a hundred years;

  • Enjoy looking at Giotto’s frescoes and learn why a few of them got destroyed;

  • Admire Donatello’s Annunciation and Brunelleschi’s Pazzi Chapel;

  • Discover the real story behind the world famous Stendhal’s syndrome and take dozens of pictures in this marvellous temple of flory.

What's Included
  • Clear audio with headsets
  • Santa Croce church entry
  • Guided tour by 5-star guide
Additional Information

Embark on a private, eye-opening tour of Santa Croce, guided by a top-notch expert. A visit to the world’s largest Franciscan church is an extraordinary journey that becomes even more meaningful when guided by a knowledgeable tour guide who can reveal the centuries-old secrets hidden in its architecture.

Constructed in the 13th century, Santa Croce became a monument to Italy’s illustrious history as it houses the remains of renowned Italians such as Michelangelo Buonarroti and Galileo Galilei.

  • Set foot on ancient graves and find out why they’re marked with skull and crossbones etchings;
  • Unravel the enigma surrounding Dante’s vacant tomb;
  • Uncover the tale of how Michelangelo’s remains were smuggled out of Rome;
  • Delve into the complex history of Galileo Galilei and locate his secret burial site, hidden for a century;
  • Learn about the phenomenon known as Stendhal’s syndrome.

Make the most of this extraordinary tour with your guide, engage in conversation, inquire, and brace yourself for the captivating stories and secrets tucked away within the walls of Santa Croce.

Location
Largo Piero Bargellini, 1
Largo Piero Bargellini
Meet your expert tour guide at the facade of Santa Croce basilica next to Dante's statue, show your voucher and let the adventure begin!
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(10 Ratings)
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Ann_m
Apr 27, 2024
Pleasantly surprised! - One of my favorite tours! Irena, our tour guide was a wealth of information and we appreciated her way of creating a picture in our heads of times past. Michelangelo and Galileo are entombed here. The crypts on the floor are very interesting because of the story behind them. Highly recommend this tour. Private tour was great!
Review provided by Viator
Mark_l
Jan 25, 2024
Wonderful and beautiful tour! - A fabulous tour of this Basilica! The tour guide was very informative and she took her time explaining the history and culture of the artists, the church and the city of Florence. We learned so much in a very short amount of time. Perfect way to spend a short afternoon. Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Lapo
Jan 20, 2024
Mesmerizing experience - I chose Irina after the bargello museum's tour and she made another hour incredible for me. The Church is amazing and full of history, it was thrilling to be standing between the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. It's possible to admire the crucifix of Cimabue (the theacher of Giotto) saved after the flood in 1966. Extremely raccomanded
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dstefanih
Feb 9, 2023
Great private tour of Basilica de Santa Croce with Irina! - Irina was an awesome guide, very knowledgeable, and extremely receptive to our pace and thirst for knowledge and information. This private guided tour was worth every penny!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gianfilippob80
Nov 17, 2022
Santa Croce with Irina - When in Florence please find some time to visit Santa Croce, one of the most amazing places in town. I had a chance to visit this church with Irina and as usual she brought all the stories to life. We saw the graves of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo to name just a few and of course Irina’s stories were as usual full of fun facts and important events. It was an incredibly enriching experience, so I truly recommend to visit Santa Croce and make sure you get Irina as your tour guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kevin_b
Oct 2, 2022
Great tour of Santa Croce. - This tour is a great one that gives a lot of information about Santa Croce. Our guide, Irena, was excellent. She was friendly, had great English and a vast amount of knowledge about Santa Croce.
Review provided by Viator
Amy_g
Aug 7, 2022
Excellent Guide - Irina was a wonderful guide. She is very knowledgeable and personable. She had so many interesting stories that made the church and its artwork come alive. One of the best guided tours we took while in Florence. I would highly recommend her tour!
Review provided by Viator
Kevin_m
Jul 22, 2022
Visit Santa Croce with an expert- Unbeatable - I had a one-to-one guide with an art historian Alda who was brilliant. I called her a walking encyclopaedia. She explained the historical context of the building and the political/ religious significance of different works within
Review provided by Viator
Lynnekate
Apr 21, 2022
Excellent tour with Irina! - We had a lovely tour of the beautiful Santa Croce with Irina, and we were lucky enough that it was just us two and the tour guide, Irina. Irina has excellent English and Italian also. She was very knowledgable about the history of Florence and the history of Santa Croce. She told us many interesting stories and facts about the church itself and the famous people buried there. I would definitely recommend a tour with Irina and we will certainly use her again when we return to Florence. Thank you Irina!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tullosai
Nov 16, 2021
Anazing experience in S Croce at Florence! - I have been to Santa Croce a few times before but never with a tour guide and I must say this experience was unforgettable. Irina shared many fantastic stories about this iconic place and the most amazing were the stories about Michelangelo and Galileo Galilei! Irina has a true passion for art and history of Florence and has a wealth of knowledge to share! Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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