You’ll meet your guide in Piazza Santa Croce, usually near the main façade. After a quick check-in, you enter through priority access and clear security. The guide sets context before stepping inside so you understand what makes this basilica different from others in Florence.

Inside, the guide leads you through the wide central nave, pointing out how the space functions as both church and memorial. You’ll stop at tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, with explanations of who is actually buried here and who is honored symbolically.

In the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels, your guide explains Giotto’s narrative frescoes, including how scenes are meant to be “read.” Without this, most visitors pass through without understanding what they’re seeing.

The tour continues into the cloisters and Pazzi Chapel, where the pace slows. This is where guides usually explain the Franciscan side of the complex and how the site functioned beyond the main church.

After the guided portion, you can stay inside to revisit chapels, spend more time at specific tombs, or visit areas like the refectory at your own pace.