Santa Croce Guide: Prices, Hours & Why Sunday Mornings Are Closed to Tourists
Representative image of a Gothic basilica facade with geometric marble patterns — not necessarily a photograph of the actual Basilica di Santa Croce.
1 - 1.5 h
Gothic Basilica Complex
Built from 1294
Piazza di Santa Croce, 16, 50122 Firenze, Italy
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Practical Visitor Info & Tips
€10.00
€5.00
1 May-31 Dec 2026, Mon-Sat 09:30-17:30 (no admission after 17:00). Sunday & religious holidays 14:00-17:30.
No reservation required for individual visitors.
| 1 May - 31 Dec 2026, Mon-Sat | Santa Croce | 09:30 - 17:30 |
| 1 May - 31 Dec 2026, Sunday & religious holidays | Santa Croce | 14:00 - 17:30 |
Last Admission: No admission after 17:00.
Closed On: 1 January, Easter Sunday, 13 June (St. Anthony), 4 October (St. Francis), 25-26 December. Sunday mornings are closed to tourist visits specifically due to religious services — access begins at 14:00 on Sundays/religious holidays.
| Option | Price | Reservation | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard adult admission | €10.00 | Not required | Official site or venue |
| Reduced admission | €5.00 | Not required | Official site or venue |
Ticket Options
€10.00
Check whether a city pass already covers this attraction before buying separately.
See pass compatibility below ↓Overview & Visitor Introduction
Santa Croce is Florence's great Franciscan basilica, the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, sold as one paid ticket covering the Basilica, Museum, Cloisters, and Cappella dei Pazzi.
Standard admission is €10.00 adult / €5.00 reduced. From 1 May to 31 December 2026, hours are Monday-Saturday 09:30-17:30, with no admission after 17:00. On Sundays and religious holidays, the complex opens later, at 14:00, because Sunday mornings are reserved for religious services — this is not a general closure, just a delayed opening for tourist visits that day.
The complex is closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 13 June (St Anthony), 4 October (St Francis), and 25-26 December.
History & Significance
Construction of Santa Croce began in 1294 as the principal Franciscan church in Florence, its plain facade later completed in a Gothic Revival style in the 19th century.
The basilica serves as the burial place of numerous notable Florentines, including Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli, earning it the nickname 'Temple of the Italian Glories.'
What to See: Top Highlights
Tombs of Michelangelo & Galileo
Monumental tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Machiavelli, among Italy's most celebrated historical figures.
Giotto Frescoes
Cycles of frescoes by Giotto and his school in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels.
Cappella dei Pazzi
A masterwork of early Renaissance architecture by Filippo Brunelleschi, in the basilica's cloisters.
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Pass Compatibility
Compare Florence PassesStatus on the Firenze Card is unconfirmed — not itemized with clarity on the card's own official page. Check directly before assuming either inclusion or exclusion.
Firenze Card
Not confirmed by the provider. Not found among the confirmed named circuit members this audit; the full 60+ museum list was not independently re-verified — do not assume inclusion or exclusion.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Santa Croce closed to tourists on Sunday mornings?
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What are the opening hours?
Who is buried at Santa Croce?
Does the Firenze Card include Santa Croce?
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