How to visit and what to see in Santa María Novella (Florence): schedules, prices

One of the monuments most interesting that you can visit in your tourist trip to Florence is church of Santa Maria Novella.

Together with Santa CroceI can tell you that they are most notable churches that you can see in Florence, apart from, of course, the great Duomo cathedral in Florence.

From the almost complete church of Santa Maria Novella Above all, it is worth highlighting its spectacular marble facade completed in 1480.

More than a century was dedicated to the realization of this architectural work, and today it is one of the best exponents of the Florentine Renaissance.

It will be very easy for you reach the church of Santa Maria Novella, as it is located next to the main railway station of the capital of the Toscana, which also has the same name.

Facing your visit of Santa Maria NovellaI'll give you some curiosities and historical data.

History of Santa Maria de Novella in Florence

This Florentine church began to be built in the mid-11th century, and from the beginning its history is linked to the Dominican Order.

Specifically, in 1221 the church was granted to twelve friars belonging to this new order that had been founded in 1216 by Santo Domingo, actually called Order of Preachers.

Once the temple became managed by the Dominicans, they launched an expansion of it.

For this they raised a gothic style church with three naves, and next to it, a monastic complex that is made up of three cloisters.

As a curiosity, the facade of Santa Maria Novella is the only one of the churches of florence that really preserves the original work.

So, for example, the Duomo cathedral facade It is a neo-Gothic solution that was completed in 1887, after the church had remained for more than 300 years with a façade without any type of decoration.

Precisely a façade that lacks decoration can be seen today in the church of San Lorenzo, where are the Medici Chapels.

La facade of the church of Santa Maria de Novella You will be able to see it without problems, as it is shown in a large square closed to vehicle traffic, which will allow you to have a wide perspective of it and the entire basilica.

What to see when visiting Santa María de Novella

For visit the basilica You must enter through the door that to the right of its façade opens towards the small cloister on the west side, so you will enter the building through a side door, where the ticket office is located.

Inside you will find numerous works of art that were commissioned to decorate the church at the time.

Among them stand out La Cruz, by Giotto (1289), The Crucifix by Brunelleschi (1415) or The Trinity by Masaccio (1425).

Over the centuries, important reforms were carried out, highlighting the one carried out in 1860, influencing the neogothic style decoration, although maintaining in the chapels the works that turn the temple into a true Museum of Florentine painting of the 15th century.

The last major restoration was carried out in 2000.

That was when the side door through which the church is now accessed was opened, which provides the best view of the aforementioned work. La Cruz by Giotto, which is placed in the center of the central nave.

When I I visited Santa Maria Novella It was not possible to access all its rooms, but since 2012 with a single entrance you will see not only the basilica and its chapels, but also other rooms.

Specifically, the area known as Santa Maria Novella Museum, which includes the Cloister of the Dead, Green Cloister, Spanish Chapel, Drunkard's Chapel and Refectory.

And, also, on certain dates it is possible to visit the Great Cloister, with its collection of frescoes dedicated to Santo Domingo, made at the end of the 16th century, and which is usually closed to the public.

Visiting times for Santa María Novella

The Visiting hours of the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence They vary depending on the time of year.

Thus, under normal conditions outside of the pandemic crisis, from April to September they are, Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 19 p.m.; Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 19 p.m.; on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 17,30:18,30 p.m., and until 13:17,30 p.m. in July and August; and on Sundays and holidays, from 12:XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., except from July to August, when it opens at XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

The last access for the visit is 45 minutes before closing time.

Santa María Novella ticket prices

For visit this church in Florence you have to buy a ticket.

The price of tickets to visit the Santa María Novella church It is 7,50 euros, with a reduced ticket of 5 euros for children from 11 to 18 years old.

How to visit Santa María Novella for free

They can visit Santa María Novella for free children under 11 years of age, members of religious congregations and people with disabilities and their companion.