Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

Built between 1246 and 1360 by Dominicans on the site of a former oratory, the church boasts a marble facade and it is a great example of the Florentine Renaissance style. It features a Romanesque-Gothic bell tower.

The vast interior contains Corinthian columns and many artworks by the best Italian painters and sculptors. Six chapels were added between the columns by Giorgio Vasari during a reconstruction commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici in the 16th century.

One of the many highlights is the Giotto's Crucifix, which is perfectly restored and located in the center of the main nave. It shows the body of Christ painted in gold on a wood panel. The Gondi Chapel houses another famous wooden Crucifix made by Brunelleschi at the beginning of the 15th century.

The Bardi Chapel contains a stone altar with a painting of the Madonna del Rosario made by Giorgio Vasari. The Filippo Strozzi Chapel takes its name after the Italian banker and statesman who has his tomb here. It's worth visiting for the frescoes painted by Filippino Lippi.

Buy your ticket online to get priority access and to avoid long lines. The ticket is valid for five days from the date selected in the calendar.