HISTORY OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE


SANTA CROCE

Santa Croce, S. Croce, Firenze, Italy; 1294-1442; by Arnolfo di Cambio

Church of Santa Croce; west facade.
Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in Florence. The church was constructed against Dominic church of S. Maria Novella. The building is 138m long and 39m wide.


The construction started in 1295 by architect Arnolfo di Cambio and completed in 1442.
The church is simple basilica style with a nave and two isles. The nave is 19m wide and wodden ceiling is the succession of early christian architecture. Baisicly the building is modified-gothic style which has come from Cistercian church and has brung into Tuscany.
The west facade decorated with colored marble was restored in 1857-63.


The Pazzi Chapel, one of the great work of Filippo Brunelleschi, is in the precincts of Santa Croce.

Interior of the nave.
There are wall paintings by Giotto di Bondone and tombs of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei and Dante Alighieri.