From Florence’s main railway station, Santa Maria Novella, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the basilica of the same name.

Behind the geometric marble façade, you’ll find Masaccio’s fresco, Giotto’s crucifix and the cloister. A single ticket grants access to the entire complex; allow about an hour to an hour and a half for your visit.

Top 10 best hotels in Florence

What to see at Santa Maria Novella

• Masaccio’s Holy Trinity in the left aisle creates the illusion of a deep chapel. It is one of the pioneering works of Renaissance perspective.
• Giotto’s painted crucifix hangs above the nave. Brunelleschi’s wooden crucifix can be found in the Gondi Chapel. According to an old story, he created it in response to Donatello’s Christ in Santa Croce.
• The Tornabuoni Chapel is adorned with frescoes by Ghirlandaio. The admission price also includes access to the cloister areas, including the Green Cloister and the Spanish Chapel.

Don’t leave straight after viewing the nave. The cloister area is included in the same ticket and offers a completely different atmosphere to the bustling streets of Florence.

Admission

The ticket includes the basilica, the adjoining museum and the cloister:

• Adults: 7,50 eur
• Children and young people aged 11 to 18: 5 eur
• Children under 11: free.

The cheapest way to buy a ticket is at the venue. The city’sofficial online ticket service, 1 eur , adds a booking fee to every paid ticket. The ISIC card alone does not entitle adult visitors to a discount according to the official price list.

Opening hours

• Monday to Thursday: 9.00–17.30.
• Friday: 11:00–17:30.
• Saturday: 9.00–17.00.
• Sunday: 13:00–17:00.

Last admission to the entire complex is one hour before closing time. On church holidays, opening hours follow the Sunday schedule, and on the eve of such holidays, the Saturday schedule applies; times may vary during church services. On Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the church is open for prayer only. Please check the official website for current opening times before your visit. smn.it

How to get there and where to stay

The basilica is situated between the main railway station and the historic centre. If you’re arriving by train, for example from Pisa, it may be your first stop before heading to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Find a hotel near Santa Maria Novella station

The Hotel Alba Palace is situated right next to the cloisters. The location is ideal if you want to explore Florence on foot whilst also taking train trips around Tuscany. Compare prices for your chosen dates.

A brief history

The Dominicans have been active here since the 13th century. The design of the marble façade was created in the 15th century by Leon Battista Alberti; the church thus combines a Gothic structure with a Renaissance façade.

The pulpit here has also gone down in the history of science. In 1614, the Dominican friar Tommaso Caccini took to the pulpit to speak out against Copernicus’s theory and Galileo Galilei.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Firenze.