Basilica di Santa Croce

On our way to the Uffizi, we were greeted with signs that said basically all museum employees were on strike because of a (pick one: pay, leave, it was nice out) dispute.  Despite the frustrating turn of events, Cara brilliantly suggested we visit a lesser visited basilica a few blocks away known as the Basilica of the Holy Cross (Basilica di Santa Croce).  It was, unsurprisingly, open.  Points to you, Catholic Church.

Seems like another Renaissance Church in a Renaissance town, no?  At first look, maybe, but it turns out this is the final resting place for some very famous Italians.  Legend has it that St. Francis founded Santa Croce, but I'm not sure there's any actual evidence supporting it.  

Wait, didn't you say something about famous people?

The photo above is the tomb of Galileo in full awesomeness.  Interesting story about this one: The church basically hated Galileo for introducing the concept of science to the world, and refused to have anything to do with him.  Well, some forward thinking monks hid his bones in the basement / crypts for 100 or so years until the church changed it's mind.  Afterwards, they built this monument and just happened to have him downstairs.  Well played.  Monks: Friends of Beer, Science, and Genetics.

Above is Dante's funeral monument (not tomb).  Another funny story: Dante was universally loved by Florentines, but (with the help of the Pope, no less), was kicked out between a war between those that supported the Church and those that supported the Roman Empire.  He's really interred in Ravenna.  After a while, the people of Florence stopped caring who was in charge and wanted his body back.  Ravenna's been telling them where they can go ever since.  The people (or maybe the Church) got fed up and just built this monument at Santa Croce anyway.

Wait, what the heck are those things on the ground beneath the monument?  Well, remember how we said that the place was supposedly founded by St. Francis?  Apparently St. Francis's legacy was popular all over the Church's reign, and especially Tuscany and Umbria.  As such, the people tried to incorporate Franciscan ideals in their life and afterlife.  Those things in the ground are graves of those wealthy enough to be buried in Santa Croce.  They're intended to be walked on and for the stone to wear down over time.  They form the floor for you to walk on so you can enjoy the church.  I don't know that it translates well.  Regardless, it's sorta creepy and they are everywhere.

How about some more famous people?  Below is the tomb of all around awesome guy, Michelangelo:

And everyone's favorite political analyst, Machiavelli:

The basilica also houses a shroud supposedly warn by none other than St. Francis himself that may be the start of the legend.  It was pretty awesome, regardless.

Of course, this is Florence at the height of the Renaissance, so there are a few features that St. Francis probably wouldn't be happy with.  The rest of us, however, can be in awe of their beauty.  For example:

Possible inspiration for the Statue of Liberty?

They also had a museum to the side of the main building that housed art that had been (or was being) reconditioned after the Arno flooded, as well as relics from the first Church that Santa Croce was built on.  Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos.  Here's one of what I think is an allegory of Jesus's word being spread through all the disciples.

- B