The Basilica of Santa Croce is the main Franciscan church of Florence and one of the largest in Italy. Construction began in the late 13th century, traditionally to a design attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, and the church was consecrated in the 1440s. Its Gothic interior is sometimes called the Temple of Italian Glories because it holds the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, among others, and a monument to Dante, who is buried in Ravenna. Its chapels are decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his followers, and the Pazzi Chapel is a masterpiece of Brunelleschi. The marble façade is a 19th-century addition. The Arno flood of 1966 severely damaged the church and its art, including Cimabue's crucifix.
Before and after
- 1440Construction of Eton College
- from April 1440 to October 1440Siege of Belgrade
- from 1441 to 1783Crimean Khanate
- from 1441 to 1475Ottoman conquest of the southern coast of Crimea
- 1442Construction of Basilica of Santa Croce
- 1442Rise of House of Braganza
- 1443Treaty of Gyehae
- from November 1443 to January 1468Skanderbeg's rebellion
- 1445Birth of Sandro Botticelli
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 1066Construction of Tower of London
- 1342Construction of Palace of Westminster
- from 1368 to 1644Ming dynasty
- from 1370 to 1789Construction of Bastille
- 1386Construction of Heidelberg University
- from 1438 to 1533Inca Empire
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 15th century.