The Medici Chapel in San Lorenzo Basilica, a Florence Must-Visit

For a Florence must-visit, the Medici Chapel located in the Basilica of San Lorenzo is top of the list.

Florence as viewed from the Michelangelo Piazza. From left to Right, Palazzo Vecchio, Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, and Basilica of Santa Croce.

Florence, Italy is known as the “cradle of the Renaissance” and home to one of the best-known duomos in the world, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, or Florence Cathedral. The dome of the Cathedral was built by Filippo Brunelleschi between August 1420 and March of 1436.  The Duomo is only one of the many famous landmarks Florence has for you to discover. The Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo’s David are all must-sees. However, it is also a city of great shopping, art, culture, and magnificent cuisine. No matter what your taste, this city has what you are looking for and you will leave vowing to return for more.

High on my list of places to visit in Florence is the complex located at the Piazza San Lorenzo. I say complex, because its central figure is the Basilica of San Lorenzo which was Filippo Brunelleschi’s first project in Florence. The Medicea Laurenziana Library, the St. Lawrence Treasure and Cellar, and the Medici Chapels are all part of this complex.

Basilica of San Lorenzo is one of the largest and oldest churches in Florence, consecrated in 393.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo

The Basilica of San Lorenzo was the official church of the Medici family as private citizens and houses the family mausoleum within its complex. Giovanni de’ Bicci de’ Medici and wife, Piccarda, were first to be buried in the church in 1429. Their tomb is located in Brunelleschi’s Old Sacristy at the front of the main sanctuary. This Basilica is home to many great works of art, including Donatello’s “Passion Pulpit’ in the main sanctuary which was possibly his last great work. Donatello’s bronze doors are housed in the Old Sacristy. The Tribune of the relics by Michelangelo, the Annunciation by Filippo Lippi, one of his great masterpieces, and many other sculptures, paintings, frescoes and historic pieces are on display.

One of the more interesting works found here is the tomb of Cosimo Medici the Elder located in the crossing of the church. The slab and headstone are set in the floor of the main Basilica Sanctuary in front of the High Altar and covers the tomb which is on view in the cellar below.

Tomb slab of Cosimo The Elder

Tomb of Cosimo The Elder

The Medici Chapel

Cappella Medici, just around back

This is a section of the Basilica which has recently been transformed into a state museum. Because it’s entrance is separate, it is often overlooked, however, it may be the highlight of the entire complex. The entrance is in the Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini which is on the opposite side of the complex from the Basilica entrance. You might say, “It’s around back.”

Once inside the museum be aware that this is a memorial site and the final resting place of many of the Medici family members as well as others. It is no accident that the simple tombstone of Anna Maria de Medici is placed near the entrance of the museum. It was Anna Maria who persisted in the fulfilment of the dream of her ancestors even after the state had fallen to the Lorraine Dynasty. Without her courage and tenacity, this work would not have been completed and many of the Florentine museums would be located in other cities throughout Italy.

The tombstone of Anna Maria de Medici.

Chapel of Princes

Survey the first floor of the Medici Chapel, and then proceed up the stairs and into the Chapel of Princes. This grand marble-clad chamber is capped by the beautiful cupola. The exterior dome stands out as second in Florentine stature only to the Duomo of the Florence Cathedral. The chapel ceiling is the masterpiece of Pietro Benvenuti and depicts stories of both the Old and New Testament.

Octagonal dome in The Chapel of the Princes

The concepts of Power and Death, as formulated by Catholic understanding of absolute monarchy, are captured in this chapel perhaps better than any place else throughout Europe. Six of the Grand Dukes (Cosimo I, Francesco I, Ferdinando I, Cosimo II, Ferdinando II, and Cosimo III) are memorialized in the Chapel of Princes. As you study the alcoves and the various tombs located in the Chapel, notice that only two of the alcoves which were prepared for statues of the entombed have been filled.

The only two figures were ever brought to reality, that of Cosimo I and Ferdinando I. Both are masterpieces of 17^th century Florentine sculpture.

The New Sacristy

Prepare to enter an atmosphere of intense spiritual presence as you proceed into the New Sacristy. Built by Michelangelo between 1520 and 1534, it is a model of harmony and proportion, and houses the remains of four Medici’s. The tombs of Giuliano, Duke of Nemours, Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino, Lorenzo the Magnificent, and Lorenzo’s brother, Giuliano de’ Medici, occupy the chapel.

Michelangelo spent nearly fourteen years working on the sculptures of the sarcophagi before leaving for Rome. He completed the sculptures of Dukes Lorenzo and Giuliano, the allegories of Dawn and Dusk, Night and Day, and the group of Madonna and Child placed above the sarcophagus of Lorenzo the Magnificent. While all are beautifully crafted, the figure of Night, placed at the right foot of Giuliano, is regarded as one of Michelangelo’s finest works.

Michelangelo’s allegorical sculpture of “Night”. Produced in 1531-1532 during his last days in Florence and widely considered one of his best works.

As you look in the two small side rooms, be sure to get beyond the Crowning Lantern in the room on the right. Here you will see two charcoal drawings from the 16^th century, thought by many to be Michelangelo originals.

When You Go to The Medici Chapel:

Hours of operation:
Open Monday to Sunday 8:15 am – 1:50 pm.
Closed on the 2nd and 4th Sunday and 1st, 3rd and 5th Monday of each month, New Year’s Day, May 1st and Christmas Day.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the entrance.

Directions from Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to the Basilica of San Lorenzo.

1. Standing between the Cathedral and The Baptistry of San Giovanni, face north and walk 30 meters to the intersection of Piazza del Duomo and Via de’ Martelli/Via Martelli.
2. Proceed north on Via de’ Martelli for 160 meters to Via de’ Gori.
3. Left on Via de’ Gori for 63 meters and enter Piazza San Lorenzo.
4. The Basilica of San Lorenzo is in this Piazza.

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