Santa Maria Maggiore, Florence
Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria Maggiore
4
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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
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,645 within 5 kms
Gustarium
2,319
0.4 km₹ • Italian • Brew Pub • Pizza
I' Girone De' Ghiotti
3,928
0.4 km₹ • Italian • Fast food • Mediterranean
Ristorante Brandolino
1,340
0.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Tuscan • Central-Italian
Fattoria Rossi Firenze
939
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Mediterranean • European
Ristorante La Cupola
209
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Steakhouse • Cafe
Mister Pizza
3,548
0.2 km₹ • Italian • Pizza • Mediterranean
Osteria de'Cicalini
318
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Mediterranean • European
La Nicchietta in Calimaruzza
251
0.4 km₹ • Italian • Healthy • Tuscan
Le Cappelle Medicee
4,096
0.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Healthy • Tuscan
Il Cernacchio Food & Wine
126
0.4 km₹ • Italian • Mediterranean • Street Food
Attractions
780 within 10 kms
Festival dei Popoli di Firenze
33 mCultural Events
Centro "Congressi al Duomo"
3
44 mConvention Centres
Ecce Homo
55 mReligious Sites • Monuments & Statues
La Berta
10
59 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
Opera Teatro Auditorium al Duomo
45
59 mTheatres
Palazzo Orlandini del Beccuto
60 mHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
Battistero di San Giovanni
4,425
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Piazza San Giovanni
109
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Santi Michele e Gaetano
111
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
253
0.2 kmLibraries
Contribute
4.0
147 reviews
Excellent
42
Very good
66
Average
34
Poor
5
Terrible
0
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA9,812 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.
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.
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.
FLnurseER
Boca Raton, FL2,534 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.
MandC0218
Riverside, CA6,933 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.
Maggi713
Baltimore, MD11,514 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.
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.
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.
Federico R
94 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.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia39,543 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Santa Maria Maggiore is quite an interesting church. It is rather plain to look at on the outside, but once inside it's a different story. It is ornate and contains some lovely features, with beautiful artworks.
Written 18 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Maria Maggiore
- We recommend booking Santa Maria Maggiore tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Santa Maria Maggiore tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Santa Maria Maggiore:
- (0.02 km) Very Central, cozy, bright, close to main monuments
- (0.04 km) Le Residenze a Firenze - Residenza de Boni
- (0.04 km) Hotel Laurus Al Duomo
- (0.04 km) Hotel Cerretani Firenze - MGallery
- (0.04 km) Beautiful location Florence style in center with AC
- Restaurants near Santa Maria Maggiore:
- (0.02 km) Ristorante Quinoa
- (0.02 km) Rivarno Cafe - Duomo
- (0.02 km) l'O di Ghiotto
- (0.03 km) Caffe Astra al Duomo
- (0.04 km) L'Osteria de Golosi