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Know everything about the Medici Chapels

The Medici Chapels, built between 1520 and 1640, are a grand mausoleum adjoining Florence's Basilica of San Lorenzo. They feature Michelangelo's New Sacristy and the opulent Chapel of the Princes, celebrating the Medici family's power and artistic...

Founded On

1640

FlorenceMedici ChapelAbout

Quick Information

ADDRESS

Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

Timings

Closed today

VISITORS PER YEAR

321043

TICKETS

From € 15

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - STANDARD

30-60 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - SKIP THE LINE

0-30 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

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Did you know?

In 1975, a secret room was discovered comprising charcoal drawings attributed to Michelangelo. It is said that he hid in the tiny chamber for a couple of months to escape a death sentence.

Michelangelo's New Sacristy was intended to be a grand tomb for Lorenzo the Magnificent, but it was never completed. Lorenzo's remains are buried under the altar without a monumental tomb because Michelangelo left Florence and never returned to finish the project.

Behind the altar in the Chapel of the Princes is a small reliquary chamber housing precious artifacts, sacred objects, paintings by renowned artists such as Botticelli and Ghirlandaio, and caskets including one dedicated to St. John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence.

The Medici Chapels are a historic mausoleum located in Florence, Italy, attached to the Basilica of San Lorenzo. They serve as the burial place for the Medici family, a powerful and influential family in Florentine history. The chapels consist of two main rooms: the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, and the Chapel of the Princes, built in the 17th century. 

The New Sacristy features Michelangelo's sculptures, including the tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici. The Chapel of the Princes is lavishly decorated with marble and precious stones, housing the remains of several Grand Dukes of Tuscany. These chapels are a testament to the artistic and cultural legacy of the Medici family in Florence.

Who founded the Medici Chapels

Pope Leo X, son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, wanted to create a new funeral home or mortuary in line with the old one built by Brunelleschi on the opposite side of the Basilica of San Lorenzo.

Cardinal Giulio de' Medici (future Pope Clement VII) and Pope Leo X commissioned the New Sacristy in 1520 and asked Michelangelo to design the chapel. However, the Italian artist and architect left for Rome in 1534 following the death of Giulio. Later, Cosimo I de' Medici entrusted Giorgio Vasari and Bartolomeo Ammannati to finish the New Sacristy by 1555. 

The Chapel of the Princes was commissioned by Cosimo in 1568, and put into effect by his son Grand Duke Ferdinando I in 1604.

Brief history of the Medici Chapels

  • 1513: Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici becomes Pope Leo X, setting the stage for Medici influence in Florence.
  • 1516-1519: Deaths of Giuliano de' Medici and Lorenzo the Magnificent prompt Pope Leo X to plan a family mausoleum in San Lorenzo.
  • 1520: Cardinal Giulio de' Medici and Pope Leo X commission Michelangelo to design and build the New Sacristy.
  • 1521: Construction of the New Sacristy begins.
  • 1527: Construction halts due to the Medici expulsion from Florence.
  • 1530: The Medici return to power, and Michelangelo resumes work briefly.
  • 1534: Michelangelo permanently leaves Florence to work in Rome, leaving the New Sacristy incomplete.
  • 1545-1555: Cosimo I orders Vasari and Ammannati to finish the chapel.
  • 1568: Cosimo I commissions the Chapel of the Princes.
  • 1588: Grand Duke Ferdinando I establishes the Factory of Hard Stones to find and create semi-precious mosaics and inlays needed for the chapel.
  • 1604: Construction of the Chapel of the Princes begins under Ferdinando I.
  • 17th-18th Century: Completion of the chapel, the large dome, and other parts of the complex.
  • 1828-1837: Pietro Benvenuti paints the dome with frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible.
  • 1962: The Chapel of the Princes’ floor work and decoration are completed.

Medici Chapels design & architecture

The Medici Chapels, located within the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence, are a remarkable example of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. They consist of two main sections: the New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes.

The New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo between 1520 and 1534, was intended as a mausoleum for prominent Medici family members. It features a cubical space with a dome, combining classical and Renaissance styles. The interior is dramatic, with contrasting white walls and gray pietra serena stone. Michelangelo’s sculptures, including Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk, adorn the tombs, symbolizing the passage of time. The unfinished work was later completed by Giorgio Vasari.

The Chapel of the Princes, built between 1604 and 1640 by Matteo Nigetti, reflects Baroque grandeur. Its octagonal design is covered with colorful marbles and semi-precious stones, created by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure workshop. The chapel’s large dome, rising 59 meters, dominates Florence’s skyline. Six grand sarcophagi, intended for Medici rulers, are placed in niches alongside bronze statues.

Together, these chapels celebrate the Medici family’s power and artistic patronage while showcasing Michelangelo’s architectural genius and Florence’s mastery of decorative arts.

What’s inside the Medici Chapels

New Sacristy

The New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, is a mausoleum that serves as the final resting place for members of the Medici family. It features sculptures by Michelangelo, including the Dawn, Dusk, Day, and Night figures, which adorn the tombs of Giuliano and Lorenzo de' Medici. The chapel is in line with Brunelleschi's Old Sacristy architecturally but remains unfinished due to Michelangelo's departure from Florence, leaving Lorenzo and Giuliano's remains without grand tombs.

Chapel of the Princes

This grand octagonal mausoleum is renowned for its lavish interiors, adorned with marble, granite, jasper, and semi-precious stones. It houses the sarcophagi of six Medici Grand Dukes and their wives. The dome, designed by Buontalenti, is about 60 meters high and features frescoes illustrating scenes from the Bible. The chapel is a testament to the wealth and influence of the Medici family, and an example of Baroque architecture, a style that was less common in Florence at the time.

The Medici Crypt

Located beneath the Medici Chapels, the Medici Crypt houses the tombs of several members of the Medici family, including some of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany and their wives. The crypt is part of the complex that includes the New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes, serving as a burial ground for lesser-known members of the Medici family. The crypt is noted for its solemn, plain yet impactful design, contrasting with the grandeur of the upper chapels.

Lorraine Crypt

The Lorraine Crypt is located behind the crypt altar, under the choir of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence. It houses the remains of the Lorraine family, who succeeded the Medicis as rulers of Tuscany. The crypt was recently reopened to the public after restoration work, offering a glimpse into the history of the Lorraine dynasty and their connection to the Medici family.

Michelangelo’s Secret Room

Michelangelo's Secret Room is a small, hidden chamber located beneath the New Sacristy. Discovered in 1975, it was used by Michelangelo as a refuge during political turmoil in 1530, to escape persecution from Pope Clement VII. The room contains charcoal drawings attributed to Michelangelo, believed to be sketches for future projects. It is accessible with mandatory advance booking and restricted to small groups due to preservation needs.

Reliquary Chamber

The Reliquary Chamber houses exquisite sacred objects, including reliquaries (boxes containing holy relics) made from precious silver and gold. These reliquaries contain relics associated with saints and martyrs, reflecting the Medici family's devotion to the church. Notable pieces include reliquaries dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. Cosimo, adorned with colored enamels. The chamber also features paintings by renowned artists like Botticelli and Ghirlandaio.