Santa Croce is the neighborhood around Piazza Santa Croce, on the east side of Florence’s historic center. It is a lived-in part of the city, with local shops, wine bars and artisan workshops, and it is a short walk from the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi. Three of our apartments are here, so this is the part of Florence we know best.
Basilica of Santa Croce
The Franciscan basilica on the square is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and Rossini are buried here, and there is a monument to Dante, who is buried in Ravenna. Inside the cloister is the Pazzi Chapel, attributed to Brunelleschi.
Entry is ticketed. Buy online to skip the line, and allow at least an hour and a half for the church, the cloisters and the museum.
Piazza Santa Croce
The square is one of the largest in Florence. The statue of Dante stands at the side of the basilica steps. Throughout the year the piazza hosts events:
- Calcio Storico Fiorentino (June): the historic Florentine football matches, with the final on 24 June, the feast of San Giovanni, the city’s patron saint.
- Christmas market (November to December): wooden stalls with decorations, crafts and seasonal food. See our Christmas in Florence guide.
Museums and sights nearby
- Leather School (Scuola del Cuoio): a leather workshop inside the former monastery behind the basilica, where you can watch artisans at work.
- Casa Buonarroti: museum on Via Ghibellina in a house owned by Michelangelo’s family, with early works by Michelangelo.
- Museo Horne: a Renaissance palazzo on Via dei Benci with a private collection of art and furniture.
- Museo Galileo: scientific instruments, including Galileo’s own, near the Uffizi.
The 1966 flood
Santa Croce is one of the lowest parts of the city and was among the worst hit when the Arno flooded on 4 November 1966. Look for the plaques on building walls that mark how high the water rose. Cimabue’s Crucifix, badly damaged in the flood, is on display in the basilica museum.
Food, markets and evenings
- Sant’Ambrogio market: the local food market, a short walk east, open in the mornings Monday to Saturday.
- Gelato: Vivoli, on Via dell’Isola delle Stinche, is one of the oldest gelato shops in Florence.
- Evenings: the streets around the square, such as Via dei Benci and Borgo dei Greci, have many restaurants and wine bars. Teatro Verdi on Via Ghibellina hosts concerts and shows.
Walking times from our apartments
Via dei Benci: Florence Palace and Historic 2-Bedroom
- Piazza Santa Croce: about 2 minutes
- Arno river: about 2 minutes
- Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi: about 5 to 8 minutes
- Ponte Vecchio: about 10 minutes
- The Duomo: about 12 minutes
- Santa Maria Novella train station: about 25 minutes
Borgo dei Greci
- Piazza Santa Croce: about 2 minutes
- Piazza della Signoria: about 4 minutes
- The Uffizi: about 5 minutes
- Ponte Vecchio: about 8 minutes
- The Duomo: about 10 minutes
- Santa Maria Novella train station: about 22 minutes
Where to stay in Santa Croce
Three of our apartments are in Santa Croce:
- Florence Palace, Santa Croce: 4 bedrooms, up to 9 guests, 2 minutes from Piazza Santa Croce
- Historic 2-Bedroom, Via dei Benci: up to 5 guests
- 2-Bedroom, Borgo dei Greci: up to 5 guests, between Piazza Santa Croce and Piazza della Signoria
Book direct and save 10% with code DIRECT10.
Planning your stay? Our apartments in the historic center: Florence Palace, Santa Croce (4 bedrooms), Via della Pergola (3 bedrooms), Via di Melegnano (3 bedrooms), Via dei Benci (2 bedrooms) and Borgo dei Greci (2 bedrooms). Book direct and save 10% with code DIRECT10.