Great Discoveries audio tour provides today’s tourist with the best way to visit the Basilica of Santa Croce, perhaps the most beautiful Gothic church in all of Italy. Contrary to the heavy and dark reputation of Gothic architecture, the Santa Croce is actually light and airy, a unique blend of styles and thought. The sun filters through the many stained glass windows, playing multi-hued rays along one of the worlds greatest repositories of Renaissance art and sculpture. The effect inspires peace and spiritual tranquility and an incredible awe for human accomplishment takes root. Indeed, the city of Florence Italy, sensing the perfect peace granted by the Basilica, has buried many of her most famous sons and daughters here. Santa Croce contains more skeletons of Renaissance celebrities than any other church in Italy. Here you will find the monumental tombs and mortal remains of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Gioacchino Rossini, Ugo Foscolo, and many others.