Tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence

The Tomb of Galileo

Tomb of Galileo Santa Croce in Florence, Italy

Tomb of Galileo Santa Croce On the left as you enter the nave is the tomb of Galileo Galilei with his bust sculpted by Girolamo Ticciati and the statue representing Astronomy by Vincenzo Foggini as well as that of Geometry by Girolamo Ticciati.

A belated 17th century tribute to the great Galileo. Indeed, condemned by the Church for his theories challenging the Holy Scriptures which considered the sun to be the centre of the world, he was not allowed to be buried in a holy place such as the Church of Santa Croce.

He was in fact buried in 1642, secretly in the Medici Chapel of the Church of Santa Croce, in a very small room to the left of the altar. His body was finally able to be officially moved to the church and this tomb in 1737, almost a century later.

One of his disciples, Vincenzi Viviani, left enough money in his will to erect this monument to Galileo. He himself is also buried near his master.

The tomb of Michelangelo

Tomb of Michelangelo Santa Croce in Florence, Italy

Tomb of Michelangelo Santa Croce Opposite the tomb of Galileo, that of a famous Florentine, Michelangelo!

Another "displaced" body. Michelangelo had in fact died and been buried in Rome, where he had spent the last thirty years of his life.

It was his nephew who secretly organised the transfer of Michelangelo's body to Florence, against the advice of the Pope, which was risky at the time.

Florence gave him a funeral in the church of San Lorenzo that was worthy of the great man, before giving him his current burial place.

It is always moving to see the extent to which this artist left his mark on his time and remains so present in our memories and our hearts. Every time we went to see his tomb in Santa Croce, one or more bouquets of flowers had been freshly placed there.

Tomb of Michelangelo Santa Croce His tomb was designed by Giorgio Vasari.

The bust of Michelangelo is the work of Battista Lorenzi, Valerio Cioli sculpted the... "Sculpture", Giovanni dell'Opera that of "Architecture" and the marble mandorla representing the Madonna del Latte, the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Infant Jesus, is by Antonio Rossellino (1478).

Dante Alighieri, Machiavelli and Rossini

On the same side of the nave is the cenotaph of another famous Florentine, Dante Alighieri, the famous writer and poet, author of the Divine Comedy.

Tomb of Gioachino Rossini Santa Croce in Florence, Italy

Tomb of Gioachino Rossini Next comes the tomb of Machiavelli, another great Florentine if ever there was one, author of the famous "The Prince" and whose name has been transformed into an expression that is still in use today: Machiavellian!!!

You can also pay your respects at the grave of the great composer Gioachino Rossini, author of the famous Barber of Seville, La Cenerentola (Cinderella), The Thieving Magpie, L'Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) and William Tell.

Other illustrious Italian men are also buried here or have their monument here, such as Leonardo Bruni, Ugo Foscolo, Carlo Marsuppini and finally that of the great Florentine painter and sculptor, Lorenzo Ghiberti, the creator of the famous doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista in Florence.

Art History History | Cloisters Nave | Choir | Major Chapel | Sacristy Pulpit | Tombs | Bardi Baroncelli Chapels | Castellani Chapel | Chapels Giusti Peruzzi | Refectory | Paintings Sculptures
Santa Croce Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorizations

Back to Top of Page