Viral Video: Climbers Scale Santa Croce in Florence

A short video showing two men scaling the façade of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence has sparked outrage online and prompted an official investigation. The 21-second clip, shared on the Instagram account Welcome to Favelas, shows the climbers reaching the top of the basilica by hand, with one posing on the statue of the Angels while the other takes a photo. Moments later, the two begin their descent with apparent ease.

It is unclear when the stunt occurred. The footage, likely filmed from a nearby apartment window, shows the basilica illuminated by sunlight—possibly at sunset—but no bystanders seem to have witnessed the event. Background noise includes voices and faint music, possibly from the street below, but there are no clear indicators of the exact time or date.

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The Opera di Santa Croce, the institution responsible for managing the basilica, has filed a formal complaint with the Carabinieri for unauthorized access. In a public statement, it called the act “serious and irresponsible,” posing a danger both to those involved and to the integrity of the historic monument. Over the weekend, the square in front of the church was partially cordoned off, and technical inspections are scheduled to begin Monday using a crane to assess any damage caused during the climb. If structural or artistic damage is identified, the complaint will be updated.

The viral video has drawn thousands of likes and comments, ranging from amusement to harsh criticism. Social media users have described it as yet another reckless stunt meant to gain attention online, echoing similar incidents involving climbers on the Milan Cathedral and Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia.

Local authorities are now reviewing footage from the area’s surveillance cameras and analyzing every detail of the social media video to identify those responsible.

The episode once again raises concerns about the safety of Florence’s cultural landmarks. As more tourists and social media users seek out extreme content, institutions are being forced to rethink surveillance and access controls—even at seemingly unreachable heights.

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