The Franciscan Basilica of Santa Croce, traditionally attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, was begun in the late 1300s, but not consecrated until 1443. It's one of Italy's most beautiful Gothic churches, though the faade, in white and green Carrara marble, was done by Niccol˜ Matas, who is said to have followed a design prepared by Cronaca. The interior has an Egyptian cross divided into three aisles by colonnades made up of octagonal pilasters that support grandiose gothic arches. The church has many works of art, including an octagonal Renaissance marble pulpit by Benedetto da Maiano, Rosselino's tomb of Leonardo Bruni, which is the prototype of Florentine 15th century tombs, and two works by Donatello, an Annunciation and a wooden Crucifix. The frescos of the Peruzzi chapel, which were painted over in 1714 and rediscovered in 1852, are, together with the scenes of the Life of Saint Francis in the Bardi Chapel, among Giotto's most mature works. The Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce boasts some of Florence's major treasures, with works by Cimabue, Orcagna, Donatello, Domenico Veneziano and others; alas, some were badly damaged by the 1966 flood. At the end of the cloisters a colonnade leads to a beautiful 15th century doorway by Giuliano da Maiano, which in turn leads to the Cappella de'Pazzi, one of Brunelleschi's masterpieces. He began it in 1443 at the request of Andrea de'Pazzi, but died before completing the faade, which has remained unfinished though others did work on it. The arches support a cupola with twelve ribs, which is lit by small windows in the lunettes. The roundels of white glazed terracotta on blue are by Luca della Robbia.
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