Florence Santa Croce Basilica (Basilica di Santa Croce) Tours and Activities

The Basilica di Santa Croce, with its austere interior and neo-Gothic façade, is one of the largest Franciscan churches in the world, and is part of a complex of religious buildings that include cloisters, crypts, and the Museo dell’Opera. With this pre-booked ticket, save yourself the trouble of waiting in line for admission to the complex, leaving you more time to see the religious art and burial places of some Florence’s most important artists, writers, and scientists.

Santa Croce Basilica is among the most important and beautiful churches in Florence, so enrich your visit to the so-called “Temple of the Italian Glories” on a tour led by an official licensed guide. See the tombs of luminaries including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, admire museum-worthy frescoes by Giotto, and learn about the design of this Franciscan jewel.

Discover the history and artistic heritage of Florence’s Gothic masterpiece on a private tour of Santa Croce Basilica. Wander the cloisters and chapels, admiring original frescoes by Donatello and Giotto, and see the ornate tombs of Italian luminaries like Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo. Trace the roots of the famous Florentine leather industry on a tour of the church’s leather workshop, founded in the 13th century by Franciscan friars.

Discover Italian art, history and culture on a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Florence. Select a 1-, 2- or 3-day pass and travel around the city’s top attractions, hopping on and off as you like. See the panoramic views from Piazzale Michelangelo, the burial spot of Galileo and Machiavelli at Santa Croce church and more. Your pass includes unlimited rides for the duration selected and 360-degree views from the open air of the upper deck.

Spend your day ashore in Tuscany exploring the highlights of Pisa and Florence on this seamless, worry-free tour. Meet your guide upon disembarkation at the Livorno port, and head first to Pisa via air-conditioned vehicle. See the Leaning Tower and other highlights of the UNESCO-listed Piazza dei Miracoli before transferring to Florence. Upon arrival, you have time to discover the Ponte Vecchio, see the Duomo, admire panoramic views from the Piazzale Michelangelo, and more.

We consider our tours as an artesan product so in this page you won’t find the “common” description of them nor the list of places you will see. Each Tour Leader has a different background, different personality and different passions, for us this means different tours, routes and ways of leading – take the adventure! Another Florence – team will guide you through the history of the city, from the time of the Etruscans until the present day, of course passing through the beautiful masterpieces of Renaissance. Our wish is to show you the most authentic part of Florence, the most amazing places away from the crowds and to tell you stories you’d never read on common travel books. This is the reason why our passionate Tour Leaders will guide you through the beautiful streets of of this city with the perspective of a local, and they will bring to life some of the best local stories and legends that will make your time in Florence unforgettable.

Leave your cruise ship at Livorno port, and see the sights of Pisa and Florence with a local guide. This full-day shore excursion checks off all that you would want to see: Tuscan scenery, the UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa, and enjoy free time in Pisa to explore the monuments of the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, the Field of Dreams. Discover Florence’s history and sights on a tour, Florence Duomo and the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

Spend a day exploring the Italian cities of Florence and Pisa while in port in Livorno. With private pickup from your cruise, see the iconic Florence Duomo and the Leaning Tower of Pisa before returning to your ship at the end of the day. Upgrade your ticket to include a 3-hour tour in Florence with a private guide and skip-the-line entry to the Accademia and Uffizi galleries.

When your cruise ship docks in Livorno, travel through Tuscany to visit Florence and Pisa with the ease of a small-group tour. Your guide shares Florence highlights including Accademia Gallery skip-the-line admission to view Michelangelo's 'David' sculpture, and free time to explore afterward. Continue to Pisa to see landmarks including the Leaning Tower of Pisa located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Piazza dei Miracoli.

Glide around the beautiful streets of Florence on an evening tour by Segway. See the iconic Florence Duomo, the bustle of Piazza della Signoria, and the Basilica of Santa Croce, the burial site of famous Italians such as Galileo and Michelangelo. Enjoy a stop before returning to your original departure point. Numbers are limited to eight on this tour to ensure an intimate experience.

A passionate and experienced English-speaking local guide Great insight into Florentine and Tuscan food Stories about Florence food culture and history Secret local facts Small intimate groups (10 people max)

Explore the Renaissance city of Florence on a full-day tour with a private guide. See top attractions such as Michelangelo’s 'David' at the Accademia Gallery, Duomo, Giotto's Bell Tower, San Lorenzo Basilica, Uffizi Galleries and more. Learn the stories and rich history behind each site that you pass, soaking up the personal attention from your private guide, with a tasty lunch included (if option selected).

From masterpieces of Renaissance art to royal Medici intrigue, Florence is like a living history museum waiting to be explored. Uncover its medieval secrets on this guided 2-hour walking tour of historic highlights including the Pitti Palace, Ponte Vecchio, Church of Santa Croce, Piazza della Repubblica and the iconic Duomo. Hear your guide’s live narration clearly through an audio headset, and stop at one of the city’s best ‘gelaterias’ for a scoop of ice cream.

When your cruise ship docks in Livorno, take a private shore excursion to Pisa and Florence, two of Tuscany’s top cities. Travel by Mercedes minivan for up to seven or eight people, and enjoy the ability to drive right into the city center, unlike large coaches. See the Leaning Tower of Pisa and other historical sights in Pisa before continuing to Florence to check out landmarks like the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, Boboli Gardens and Ponte Vecchio. Then meet back up with your driver to return to Livorno.

With your Pass, discover Florence with unlimited sightseeing. Join and leave our flexible walking tour circuits as you please; escorted by local experts who are on hand to meet you throughout the day. Simply track your nearest expert in real time with our app, and begin to uncover 100s of key sights, including the Duomo, Basilica of Santa Croce and the Uffizi! Uncover the fascinating history of this city, thanks to the engaging story telling from your live guide. Hop off your guided tour and self-guide whenever you wish; perhaps to explore one of Florence's many museums, taste the cuisine of a local food market, or to browse the huge array of shops. Tune into your multilingual audio commentary, navigate through suggested itineraries, pinpoint sights and discover the best photo spots, all offline, day or night - it couldn't be easier! When you're ready, join an escorted tour at your nearest meeting point and continue your exploration.

This daylong shore excursion from Livorno takes you through the Italian countryside to the towns of Pisa and Florence. Travel in a air-conditioned minivan with Wi-Fi to Pisa, where you can see and photograph the city’s famous Leaning Tower. Then it’s on to Florence where highlights include Piazzale Michelangelo, a square with panoramic views of Florence, and Piazza Santa Croce, where Galileo and Machiavelli are buried. Have lunch on your own before heading back to port.

Visit the historic cities of Florence and Pisa on a full-day, private shore excursion from the La Spezia cruise port, and experience some of Italy’s most iconic sites. Enjoy the flexibility of a private driver as you explore art and architecture in both cities, with a stop to see the famously leaning Leaning Tower of Pisa. This tour is priced per group for up to eight people, and includes pickup and drop-off in La Spezia.

Discover the long and important history of Florence’s Santa Croce Basilica, and learn how it earned the nickname ‘Temple of the Glories of Italy.’ Best known as a mausoleum housing the remains of Italian luminaries including Michelangelo, Dante and Galileo, the basilica is also home to many gems of Renaissance art. Get the most out of your visit and hear the legends that surround this house of worship from an expert English-speaking guide.

Dig into the delicious culinary history of the Tuscan capital with this 4-hour food and wine tour of Florence. Join a knowledgeable local guide for visits to 7 places to eat or drink in the historic center – trattorias, restaurants, pastry shops, gelaterias, wineries and more. Check out the food vendors in the bustling San Lorenzo Market. Take this tour on your first day in Florence so you can eat better for the rest of your stay. Come hungry!

Delve into the heart of beautiful Tuscany, and visit two of the region’s highlight cities, on this seamless shore excursion. Meet your guide at the Livorno Port, and travel via air-conditioned minivan to Florence. As this is a private tour, you’ll explore the city at your own pace: see the Duomo, browse its craft markets, admire the Piazza della Repubblica, and more. Your second stop is Pisa and its UNESCO-listed Piazza dei Miracoli, where you’ll encounter the world-famous Leaning Tower.

this tour is Ideal for cruise passengers that want to see the highlights of Florence and Pisa in a day

Appreciate the best masterpieces of the Holy Cross Basilica in less than an hour, saving you time and money with our digital self-guided tour.  • Explore the museum at your own pace - completely independently from local guides, schedules and groups. • Maximise your time and learn about all the major artworks and treasures museums have to offer by visiting them directly using our innovative 3D maps. • Our digital solution is like having your personal on-demand guide in your pocket This is not an entrance ticket to the Basilica or any special exhibitions. This is a self-guided audio tour to be downloaded on your mobile phone. The entrance ticket to the Basilica needs to be purchased separately from this product. Please note this is not the audio guide offered directly at the basilica. This self-guided audio tour is subject to the basilica’s opening days and hours.

Meet the artisans who are keeping Florence’s ancient craft traditions alive on a small-group shopping tour. Visit artisan workshops to see how traditional Italian and Florentine products like leather goods, marbled paper, and mosaics are made using methods passed down through the centuries. Browse quality handmade goods and pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs to take-home. 

Get an in-depth look at three beautiful churches as well as their ancient cloisters on this private tour in Florence. Visit the churches of San Lorenzo, Santa Croce, and Santa Maria Novella before sitting down to a simple Tuscan lunch (if upgrade selected).