ARTS & CULTURE

Florence Art Tour: Mendicant Orders at Santa Croce & Santa Maria Novella

Duration

Half day

Ideal time to visit

All year round

Price guide

At a glance

Step into the heart of Florence and uncover the city’s timeless artistic spirit. This half-day guided walking tour explores three of Florence’s most remarkable churches—Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo, and Santa Croce—each a masterpiece of architecture, history, and devotion. As you journey through these sacred spaces, you’ll witness the evolution of Renaissance art and the power of Florence’s great families, from the Medici’s patronage to the legacies of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.
Guided by an expert art historian, you’ll experience Florence not as a museum, but as a living story—where every fresco, chapel, and façade reveals the soul of the city that shaped Western art.

Trip highlights

  • Discover Masaccio’s Holy Trinity, the first masterpiece of linear perspective
  • Admire Ghirlandaio’s frescoes in the Tornabuoni Chapel at Santa Maria Novella
  • Explore San Lorenzo, the Medici family’s parish church designed by Brunelleschi
  • Visit Santa Croce, resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli
  • Marvel at Giotto’s moving frescoes, icons of early Renaissance art
  • Learn about the influence of the mendicant orders on Florence’s spiritual and artistic identity

Itinerary in detail

First Stop – Santa Maria Novella

Begin your tour at this Dominican masterpiece, famous for its striking marble façade and artistic treasures. Inside, explore Masaccio’s Holy Trinity, a revolutionary work in the history of perspective, and Ghirlandaio’s frescoes, vivid portrayals of Renaissance Florence.

Second Stop – San Lorenzo

Continue to the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the Medici family’s spiritual home. Designed by Brunelleschi and enriched by Michelangelo’s genius, this church stands as a monument to the Medici’s influence on the city’s artistic life.

Final Stop – Santa Croce

End your journey at Santa Croce, the grand Franciscan basilica known as the “Temple of Italian Glories.” Pay tribute to the great minds of Italy—Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli—and admire Giotto’s world-renowned frescoes that forever changed Western art.

" Curated journeys designed for those who appreciate beauty, culture, and effortless elegance. "

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Overview

What's included

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off

FaQ

This is a private guided walking tour.

Yes, pre-booked tickets are included.

Yes, though it is best suited for children with an interest in art or history.

Private versions of this tour are available upon request.

Please wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees, as these are active places of worship.