Liturgy

The basilica of Santa Croce has been one of the oldest places of worship in Florence for many centuries and is one of the largest Franciscan churches in the world. The Community of Friars Minor Conventual who cater for its spiritual life welcome all those wishing to pray, go to confession or attend the religious services celebrated daily on the high altar in a splendid setting adorned with 14th century frescoes illustrating episodes from the Gospel and the life of St. Francis.

Liturgical life

Visitors wishing to pray may enter the basilica free of charge during opening hours. The mass is celebrated on the high altar every day. Visitors may seek confession or discuss their spiritual needs with the Franciscan friars at any moment during the liturgical day.

Anyone wishing to book a private mass or other liturgical activities can send a request to this email address: sacrestiasantacrocefirenze@gmail.com

Mass on weekdays and on the eve of religious or public holidays
6 pm
Mass on Sundays and religious holidays

New Year's Day (1 January), Epiphany (6 January), Easter, Feast of St. Anthony of Padua (13 June), Assumption (15 August), Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (4 October), All Saints (1 November), Immaculate Conception (8 December), Christmas (24 December), Boxing Day (26 December).

11 am and 6 pm
Confession

Daily

10-12 am and 4-6 pm
Recital of the Rosary

From Monday to Friday

5.30 pm
Prayer in front of Donatello's Crucifix

Daily

15.30

Admission for worship

To attend 6.00 pm mass on weekdays and holidays you should enter the basilica via the side door on Largo Bargellini, while to attend 11.00 am mass on Sundays and holidays you should use the north aisle door at the front of the church. Both doors are fitted with ramps for ease of access.

Admission is always free of charge for those wishing to pray. Visitors wishing to pray should use the side door on Largo Bargellini which is always open during regular visiting hours. Religious services are held in the nave before the high altar, where all masses are also celebrated.

Worship entrance_2024_monumental complex of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy

Area for worship

Visitors wishing to pray in the basilica will find the area reserved for worship in the Niccolini chapel. They may access this area free of charge during regular opening hours and during mass.

Santa Messa in basilica

Liturgical celebration in the basilica


The Franciscan community today

Santa Croce has maintained its original identity over the centuries as a place of prayer, worship and the transmission of faith through art. That is the primary purpose of the various religious activities still performed by the Franciscan community today, along with a range of cultural activities associated with the initiatives of the Santa Croce Library and the magazine Città di Vita, both founded by the Friars Minor Conventual.

The Santa Croce Library
The library, which opened in 1944, promotes the study of theological disciplines and of themes associated with Franciscan spirituality and art. Its collections include inventories, annals and periodicals specialising in Franciscan and theological studies and the social and human sciences. The archive houses part of the documentation produced between the 14th and 20th centuries and material from Franciscan archives suppressed throughout Tuscany in the 19th century. The library is open to all those wishing to further their historical, artistic and religious studies. Its reading room, situated inside the Franciscan convent, may be used by prior appointment.

Città di Vita - City of Life
Founded in 1946, Città di Vita is the Basilica of Santa Croce's bimonthly magazine focusing on religion, art and science. Initially intended for the Theological Studies for Laymen established in many regions of Italy following the example set by Santa Croce, the magazine offers a lively, up-to-date insight into revealed thought allowing readers to experience the deep vibrancy of theology in respect of the problems that assail the spirit of today's world. You can find out a great deal more about the activities of Santa Croce's Community of Friars Minor Conventual on our website: 
www.santacrocefirenze.it