Florence’s Holiday Gift: Free Admission to Santa Croce on Dec. 26, 2025

12/25/2025

Today is a legal holiday in Italy; museums, however, will be open with a holiday gift: the Basilica of Santa Croce is accessible with free entrance from 12:30 to 5:45 pm.

Guests now have the chance to enjoy the beauty and history of Santa Croce, a Franciscan basilica in the Gothic style, at no charge. The church contains landmark frescoes painted by Giotto in the 14th century, depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis, the Renaissance architecture and decorations of the Pazzi Chapel in addition to the ornate tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo.

December 26 is the Feast of St. Stephen (Santo Stefano), a legal holiday in Italy, with all businesses, offices and many shops closed. St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr on an unspecified date between 33 and 36 A.D. He is revered by the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Lutheran churches.

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