Churches: Basilica di Santa Croce (Part 1 of 3)

The Basilica of the Holy Cross, or Santa Croce, is one of the finest, largest and oldest churches in Florence.  Its art, "long-term residents" and architecture make it a must-see site. 

Basilica di Santa Croce

Basilica di Santa Croce, altar 

Basilica di Santa Croce, advent candles 

Memorial to Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, Nobel Prize winner at age 37 and member of the Manhattan Project

Memorial to Guglielmo Marconi, credited with invention of the radio

Tomb of Galileo

Tomb of Michelangelo.  Although he died in exile in Rome, he wanted to be buried in Florence.  When he died, his nephew secretly transported his body from Rome to Florence for burial. 

The "tomb" of Dante.  Dante died in exile in Ravenna and there his body remains.  An papal order to transfer the body to Florence was even refused.  Instead, an empty coffin was sent to Florence.  Since Ravenna will never send Dante's body back to Florence, this tomb will remain empty. 

Tomb of Italian composer Rossini.   Hi, ho, Silver, away!

Tomb of Niccolo Machiavelli.  (Machiavelli makes Karl Rove look like a very nice person.)

The real Statue of Liberty?  Read more below. 

The Annunciation by Donatello (1425).  The faces and figures are very life like.

A beautifully restored fresco in one of many chapels in the Basilica.  The colors are rich and vibrant and the images are crisp and almost three-dimensional.  It is wonderful to see aged works of art restored to what the artist probably intended.  

Part of the habit and sash that belonged to Saint Francis.  In the past, the Basilica was a Franciscan monastery.

A beautifully restored The Descent of Christ into Limbo by Bronzino (1552)

The main cloister next to the Basilica

In the main cloister, Blessing God the Father by Bandinelli (1556)

Next Up:  The Flood