Santa Croce

Santa Croce is a most majestic church of the Florence. I think it has more importance for the city than Cathedral or San Lorenzo Church. Even if not to consider the fact that interior of Santa Croce is adorned by the murals of Giotto and others famous artists, just keep in mind that this is Florence’s Pantheon. Here were buried such people as Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli so if you want to pay respect to these names you definitely have to visit Santa Croce.

Santa Croce has been constructed for the Franciscans. The church was built by the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and under his supervision. Its construction began as 1294 and Santa Croce should was to surpass already built Santa Maria Novella – the main church of Dominicans.

Facade of Santa Croce

The construction was finished in 1385 but consecrated Santa Croce was only in 1143. Don’t be deceived by its façade. It’s more modern work which appeared here in 1863. Author of the façade stated that he found lost medieval design of Santa Croce façade. I can’t dispute that fact but also I can’t prove it also.

Franciscans, despite the fact that they obeyed to the strict rules of living and neglected the richness, spent a lot of money to build Santa Croce. The main source of the funds was an influx of the money from the bankers of Florence. Bankers donated great sums to the Franciscans. By that they thought that they are becoming closer to monks.

monument to Dante near Santa Croce

Thanks to such participants, Franciscans didn’t have scarcity of the funds to decorate Santa Corce and church has now one of greatest interiors in world.

Interior of Santa Croce

Michelangelo’s tomb. It was adorned by the beautiful relief by Antonio Rossellino. Photo provided by the Alboholic under CC BY 3.0 license

Next to Michelangelo’s tomb there is Cenotaph Dante. Great poet died on the north Italy in the city of Ravenna. He has been evicted from the Florence by his political rivals. Photo provided by the Jastrow under CC BY 3.0 license

Machiavelli’s monument seems very simple. It was created in 1787 after the two centuries of his death. The monument consists one inscription – “Tanto nomini nullum par elogiom” (There is no reward which is worthy this man). Photo provided by the Wknight94 under CC BY 3.0 license

Santa Croce possesses few greatest artistic masterpieces of Renaissance. Special place among them hold murals created by Giotto. You can find them at Bardi Chapel and Chapel Perutz which reside in the central nave of church. Murals were dedicated to the lives of John the Baptist and St. Francis.

Inner yard of Santa Croce

To recap this article, I want to say a few words about the Santa Corce Square. This square is interesting because in the Middle Ages here were conducted football games.

Of course, those games were far away from what we know as football. Teams have had the ball but they didn’t have any rules. Players could do almost anything to get the ball.