Piazza Santa Croce is a large rectangular square in front of the Basilica di Santa Croce, one of the more spacious open spaces in central Florence. In June it becomes the venue for the Calcio Storico Fiorentino — a historic form of football played in 16th-century costume by teams representing the four city quarters, combining football, rugby, and wrestling in a game that has been played on this square since 1530. Tickets sell out far in advance.
For the rest of the year the piazza is a pleasant place to sit and observe the neighbourhood. The Basilica's white and green marble façade (completed only in the 19th century, in neo-Gothic style) forms the eastern end; the surrounding buildings include the 15th-century Palazzo dell'Antella, its façade decorated with frescoed figures. The square is less policed for tour groups than the central piazzas, and the cafes and bars around its edges are used by a mix of students, residents, and visitors.