The Basilica Di Santa Croce, The Largest Franciscan Church In The World. Florence, Italy. Royalty-Free Stock Photography

The Basilica di Santa Croce - Basilica of the Holy Cross - is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo. The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294. The bell tower was built in 1842, replacing an earlier one damaged by lightning. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories - Tempio dell`Itale Glorie. Florence, Tuscany, Italy.