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 the Santa Croce was founded by St. Francis himself. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV.
The Basilica became popular with Florentines as a place of worship and patronage and it became customary for greatly honored Florentines to be buried or commemorated there.
