The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence

Santa Croce Basilica in Florence is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable feature is the presence of 16 chapels, many of which are adorned with frescoes created by Giotto and his students, as well as tombs and monuments.❤️❤️❤️ Today, Santa Croce is not only one of Florence's most important religious buildings but also a UNESCO World Heritage site.🗽🗽🗽 Construction of Santa Croce began in 1294, commissioned by the Florentine Republic and designed by architect Arnolfo di Cambio. Originally built to commemorate the Passion of Christ, the name "Santa Croce" means "Holy Cross," symbolizing the cross of Jesus Christ. The church took a long time to complete, with construction essentially finished and the church put into use by 1443.😍😍😍 The church features a typical Gothic plan, with an overall "T" shape. A central nave and two aisles are separated by several rows of octagonal columns, and the façade is in the Neo-Gothic style. Santa Croce houses a vast collection of precious artworks, such as Agnolo Gaddi's fresco "The Legend of the Holy Cross," Donatello's sculpture "The Annunciation" (Figure 5), and Cimabue's fresco "Crucifixion." It is also home to over 300 tombs commemorating Renaissance artists. Some of the floor tombs are so ancient that walking on them is prohibited. Among those interred here are Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, earning it the nickname "the Pantheon of Italy." The church's former refectory was converted into the Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce in 1900, housing many works from the Florentine school. In 1966, the space was damaged by the catastrophic Arno River flood. After careful restoration, it reopened in 1975. In addition, there are many places worth exploring around the church: - The Piazza di Santa Croce outside the church is one of the oldest squares in Florence, surrounded by numerous historical buildings and shops. The square's name comes from the Sevillian metal forging craft cross located there. - To the left of the church's main entrance stands a statue of Dante, one of the founders of Renaissance humanism. #TravelNotJustForTheGram #Architecture #InternationalTravel #FlorenceTravel #Florence #WesternArtAndCulture #IntroductionToArtAppreciation #WesternArtAppreciation #WorldHeritage