This church is yet another incredible example of Italian Gothic architecture within the city. The construction began in 1294 on the site where the first Franciscan friars to arrive in Florence had a small oratory and apart from the 19th century Gothic Revival façade, the basilica was completed by 1442.

Unfortunately, I was unable to go inside the church as they were closed on the day I planned to visit but from what I have read many of the interior walls display impressive Tuscan Gothic masterpieces. The exquisite Bardi and Peruzzi chapels are frescoed by Giotto and there are many fine examples of sculptures from artists of the early Renaissance period such as Brunelleschi, Donatello and Rossellino. The basilica is home to almost 4000 works of art emanating from the 13th to 20th centuries and still includes the original stained-glass windows which are an integral part of its design.

Santa Croce is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories as it is the final resting place for many prominent Italians including Michelangelo, Galileo and Ghiberti.