Day 13

Santa Croce Church

This morning we are heading to the modest Santa Croce church. It’s a smaller church off Florence’s main axis, but it houses many famous, dead Florentines. It was designed around 1300, and many famous artists and designers had hands in its final form.

The church’s marble facade was a 19th-century addition, but many of the frescos date from the 1300s and the funerary memorials cover the last 600 years.

Basilica Santa Croce — Santa Croce church in Florence. It's marble facade was a 19th-century add-on, but the church dates from the 14th century.

Santa Croce Bell Tower — The bell tower and side yard of the Santa Croce church.

Statue of Dante Alighieri in the Piazza di Santa Croce in Florence.

Buildings Near Santa Croce — Some buildings on the Piazza di Santa Croce.

Tombs and memorials occupy almost every square inch of this place. The floor is covered in tombs, and the walls contain elaborate memorials to some of Tuscany’s and Italy’s most famous. Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante, Marconi, Rossini, and da Vinci are all memorialized here.

Inside Santa Croce — Inside the Santa Croce church, looking toward the entry.

Santa Croce Tombs — The tombs of famous Florentines cover the floor of the Santa Croce church.

Worn Tomb — A well-worn tomb monument in Santa Croce.

Santa Croce Frescos — Frescoed ceiling in the Santa Croce church.

Santa Croce Ceiling — The frescoed ceiling of the Santa Croce church in Florence.

Dome Decor — A decorated dome in the Santa Croce church.

Dante's Memorial — A memorial to Dante Aligheiri in Santa Croce.

Michelangelo's Grave — Michelangelo's grave in the Santa Croce church in Florence.

Galileo's Tomb — The tomb of Galileo in Santa Croce.

Marconi Memorial — A memorial to Marconi in Santa Croce church.

Da Vinci Memorial — A memorial to Leonardo da Vinci in Santa Croce church.

Rossini's Memorial — Rossini, the famous composer, has a memorial in Santa Croce church.

Uffizi Gallery

After the church, we headed over to the Uffizi, the vast museum of Renaissance art. Highlights for me were Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Spring. Also, there are many Da Vinci’s and Michelangelo’s around too. One could spend a few days in this museum. The cafe on the loggia is wonderful and has a great view over the Piazza della Signoria. This is where the Medicis once listened to music as it was played in the plaza.

Piazza della Signoria

After the museum we spilled out into the Piazza della Signoria where Suzanne and I lingered to take some photos of the sculptures in the afternoon sun.

Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's city hall, was build between 1298 and 1314.

The Rape of the Sabine Women in silhouette.

The replica of Michelangelo's David in the Piazza della Signoria.

David's Behind — Michelangelo's David, from behind.

Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini in the Loggia dei Lanzi off Piazza della Signoria.

David in Shadow I — The replica of Michelangelo's David and its shadow in the Piazza della Signoria.

David in Shadow II — This replica of Michelangelo's David is in Florence's Piazza della Signoria where the original once stood.

David in Shadow III — The replica of Michelangelo's David and its shadow in the Piazza della Signoria.

David in Shadow IV — The shadow of Michelangelo's David.