Basilica di Santa Maria Novella Florence: What to Know Before Visiting

On Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella is easy to place within Florence’s central streets. Its polychrome-marble façade was completed in the second half of the 15th century by Leon Battista Alberti. The church itself was begun by the Dominicans soon after 1240, completed in 1357 and consecrated in 1420.

The municipal tourism board describes it as the first of Florence’s great basilicas and the city’s first large-scale Gothic building. The main address is Piazza Santa Maria Novella 18, 50123 Florence.

If you’re arriving by train, Firenze Santa Maria Novella station is about an eight-minute walk from Emerald Palace, making the station and basilica useful reference points for planning a first day in the city.

Inside, look for several works spanning different periods and styles: Giotto’s Crucifix, a wooden Crucifix by Filippo Brunelleschi, and Masaccio’s fresco of the Trinity. The church also has chapels frescoed by Domenico Ghirlandaio and Filippino Lippi.

Give yourself time to take in the church as a whole as well as its individual works. The basilica’s chapels are part of the complex ticket, so you can include them in the same visit as the museum areas rather than treating them as a separate admission.

The ticket covers more than the church. The complex includes the Cloister of the Dead, Green Cloister, Spanish Chapel, Ubriachi Chapel and Refectory, as well as the basilica’s frescoed chapels, sacristy and Avelli cemetery.

To reach the museum after visiting the church, exit the basilica and walk to the museum entrance at Piazza Stazione 4. The basilica entrance is at Piazza Santa Maria Novella 18, on the left side of the façade when you face it; ring the red-button bell to enter.

The municipal tourism board lists the museum as entirely accessible. The basilica is accessible except for Cappella Tornabuoni, Cappella Rucellai and Cappella Strozzi di Mantova. Check these details against your needs when planning which parts of the complex to visit.

A full ticket costs €10. The reduced ticket costs €8 for people aged 18–25 and university students; you may be asked to show identification. Free admission is listed for several groups, including Florence and Metropolitan City of Florence residents with valid ID, minors up to 17 and disabled visitors, with possible free entry for their carers.

Other eligible groups include religious orders and diocesan clergy, qualifying group leaders, licensed Italian tour guides, ICOM, ICOMOS and ICCROM members, journalists, Card del Fiorentino holders and A.A.C.U.P.I. Card holders.

You can buy a ticket without advance booking at the basilica ticket office on the day. If you want to book ahead, purchase through the Santa Maria Novella museum ticket site. Groups may have up to 25 people plus one guide; groups of six or more must use earphones.

Regular visiting hours vary by day: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Friday and civil holidays, 11:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Saturday and eves of religious holidays, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; and Sunday and religious holidays, 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Religious holidays in the schedule include 1 January, 6 January, 15 August, 1 November, 8 December, 25 December and Easter. On those holidays, Sunday hours apply; their eves follow Saturday hours. Last admission to the basilica, museum and cloisters is one hour before closing.

The complex is closed to visitors and open only for prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The basilica also remains open for personal prayer and religious services outside visitor access.

For a smooth visit, keep in mind that smoking, eating and drinking, mobile-phone use inside the church, animals, touching artworks, crossing protective cordons, flash photography and tripods are prohibited. Bulky luggage and trolleys cannot enter. Wear suitable clothing, respect the silence, and leave umbrellas or objects that could damage artworks in the umbrella holder or at the entrance.

Before you go: Hours, prices and access rules can change, so check the official site before you go.

Firenze Santa Maria Novella station is a practical arrival point for this visit. From there, head toward Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the basilica’s main entrance at number 18. If you plan to see the museum too, remember that its entrance is at Piazza Stazione 4, so you’ll leave the church and walk over to that separate entrance.

For a broader route through the surrounding streets, see this Florence old town walking route. It can help you place the basilica within a wider walk rather than planning it as a stand-alone stop.

To plan more of your time in the area, pair your old-town route with a look at Central Market Florence. Keep the basilica visit’s variable opening hours in mind when arranging the order of stops, especially if you’re planning around a Sunday or religious holiday.