Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria Maggiore
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
The area
Neighbourhood: Duomo
Florentia, as it was called by Latins, is permeated by an eternal beauty spread in all corners of the city. The historic center is characterized by the immensity of the Duomo, able to transport tourists into the brightest age of Florence: the Renaissance. Who does not know the Brunelleschi Dome, San Giovanni Baptistery and the Giotto’s Campanile? Everything is enclosed here and it would be easy to imagine the city as it was in ancient times, with maids walking in the main square and horses carrying coaches. Nowadays, roads are busy with street artists. Rustic Tuscan bakeries give way to fashion shops; just stop for a few minutes in the middle of Piazza della Repubblica to enjoy the colors and sweet melody of the carousel that will bring back great memories from anyone’s childhood.
How to get there
- Alamanni-Stazione Santa Maria Novella • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,487 within 5 kms
Attractions
803 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
152 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
68
Average
34
Poor
5
Terrible
0
Gill Murphy
Sowerby Bridge, UK590 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
A beautiful church, just off the Main Street unassuming from the outside. Inside it is spectacular, well worth a visit.
Written 23 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA10,390 contributions
Apr 2019
This church, located just off a main street between Stazione di Santa Maria Novella and the Duomo complex. It is dated from the 8th century and rebuilt in the 13th century. It has a central Nave separated from the aisles by pointed arches. There are many frescos attributed to both Cione and Nardo. This seems to be a rarely visited church in a city of many churches.
Written 7 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SpirosK photography
Athens, Greece1,388 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Yet another beautiful church in the city of Florence with lots of beautiful works of art inside. Hop in, take a good look around, hop out. If you got 30 minutes to spare and appreciate art, give it a go.
Written 19 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Borzov
Rijeka, Croatia5,256 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
The oldest church in the city was originally built in the 11th century and refurbished in the 13th century, but the church here existed as early as the 8th century. The exterior is quite plain and simple, but in its elegant interior, there are some very interesting decorations and you can find the tombs of several prominent historical persons. I always have a feeling that the church is a bit forgotten among all those splendid buildings in the city, but it is well worth the visit.
Written 10 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLnurseER
Boca Raton, FL2,793 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
Small church by Florentine standards that has the honor of being called the oldest church. Not much to look at from the outside, it holds some interesting things inside including a tomb of the renowned philosopher, scholar and Dante’s adopted father Brunetto Latini. It opens at 7 am, but closes at 12 for siesta, then opens again from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm.
Written 14 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MandC0218
Riverside, CA7,212 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
The oldest church in Florence, Italy. Not much decoration with simple exterior design but an interesting interior design.
Written 25 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maggi713
Baltimore, MD12,069 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Santa Maria Maggiore may just be the most forgettable church in Florence. Most tourists will just walk by this church. We visited because I was interested in the hidden secret (below). It is, after all, one of Florence’s oldest churches (some say the oldest). The church has an unfinished exterior. We enjoyed the peace and quiet during our visit.
There is a hidden secret on the outside of the church. It is about a "petrified woman" known as “Berta,” whose head comes out in a disquieting way from the stones of the walls of the church. You really have to look for it on the Via Cerretani. The story goes that on September 16, 1327, Cecco d’Ascoli, a doctor, astrologer and teacher, was being led to execution after predicting that the future queen of Naples would be ‘inclined to lust’—an accurate prophecy as it turned out: (Joanna I had four husbands, one of whom she killed, and she was suffocated to death in her own bed.) As Ascoli was being marched to the bonfire on which he would be burned, crowds poured out into the street to shout and jeer at the poor man. When he passed in front of the church, he begged the crowd for a little water for his parched throat. Berta, watching from a window in the bell tower, shouted cruelly, ‘He’s a wizard! If he drinks he shall not burn!’ Ascoli, in response to the woman’s meanness, cursed her, saying, ‘And you shall never again lift up your head from that place!’ To this day, her petrified head can be seen on the wall of the tower, waiting to be freed from the curse.
There is a hidden secret on the outside of the church. It is about a "petrified woman" known as “Berta,” whose head comes out in a disquieting way from the stones of the walls of the church. You really have to look for it on the Via Cerretani. The story goes that on September 16, 1327, Cecco d’Ascoli, a doctor, astrologer and teacher, was being led to execution after predicting that the future queen of Naples would be ‘inclined to lust’—an accurate prophecy as it turned out: (Joanna I had four husbands, one of whom she killed, and she was suffocated to death in her own bed.) As Ascoli was being marched to the bonfire on which he would be burned, crowds poured out into the street to shout and jeer at the poor man. When he passed in front of the church, he begged the crowd for a little water for his parched throat. Berta, watching from a window in the bell tower, shouted cruelly, ‘He’s a wizard! If he drinks he shall not burn!’ Ascoli, in response to the woman’s meanness, cursed her, saying, ‘And you shall never again lift up your head from that place!’ To this day, her petrified head can be seen on the wall of the tower, waiting to be freed from the curse.
Written 17 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matheus M
Sao Paulo, SP10 contributions
Jul 2017
When going to Firenze, don't let this cathedral pass.
There you will find many historical celebrities tombs, such as Galileo, Dante, Machiavel and many others.
There you will find many historical celebrities tombs, such as Galileo, Dante, Machiavel and many others.
Written 19 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate W
Colchester, UK171 contributions
Jan 2018 • Solo
Came here to say a prayer whilst waiting for my husband to climb the dome. A lovely church a few minutes walk from the Duomo. Not as opulent as other Florentine churches but beautiful nonetheless
Written 24 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Federico R
97 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
This church, located few blocks away from the Duomo has some nice paintings and is a good way to use the queuing time while waiting to enter the Duomo (if you are more than 1, obviously)
Written 29 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingSanta Maria Maggiore, Florence - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Maria Maggiore
- Hotels near Santa Maria Maggiore:
- (0.04 km) Le Residenze a Firenze - Residenza de Boni
- (0.04 km) B&B Hotel Firenze Laurus Al Duomo
- (0.04 km) Hotel Cerretani Firenze - MGallery
- (0.04 km) THE CONTEMPORARY LUXURY DESIGN APARTMENT IN SAN GIOVANNI FACING THE DUOMO
- (0.05 km) Duomo Loft - Hosted by Sweetstay
- Restaurants near Santa Maria Maggiore:
- (0.02 km) Ristorante Quinoa
- (0.02 km) Rivarno Cafe - Duomo
- (0.03 km) Caffe Astra al Duomo
- (0.04 km) Elle Cafe
- (0.04 km) Vista Wine Bar