Medici Chapels, Museum chapel in Florence, Italy
The Medici Chapels are located within the Basilica of San Lorenzo and house the New Sacristy featuring marble sculptures of Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici crafted by Michelangelo during the Renaissance. The adjoining Chapel of Princes serves as a mausoleum, linking the two spaces into a connected architectural complex dedicated to the memory of the ruling family.
The chapels were built starting in the 16th century to provide a dignified burial site for members of the Medici family, who ruled Florence from the 15th century onward. Construction extended over several generations and mirrors the shifting ambitions of the dynasty, which sought to secure its political power through religious and artistic investment.
The Chapel of Princes displays complex inlays of semiprecious stones, bronze statues and marble decorations that represent the refined craftsmanship of Italian masters. This elaborate design reflects the Medici desire to anchor their power and taste in a lasting architectural testimony.
The rooms open daily in the morning and close in the early afternoon, making a visit easy to fit into a city tour. Wheelchair access is secured through ramps and elevators, and staff provide help with navigation between different levels when needed.
In 1976 workers discovered 56 hidden drawings between the apse and sacristies, showing sketches of human features possibly linked to the work of Michelangelo. These designs were applied with charcoal directly onto the walls and remained concealed in darkness for centuries until renovation work brought them to light.
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Basilica of San Lorenzo
42 m
Il Mercato Centrale Firenze
167 m
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
102 m
New Sacristy
38 m
Sagrestia Vecchia
41 m
Tomb of Giovanni and Piero de' Medici
44 m
Palazzo Martelli
103 m
Biblioteca Riccardiana
171 m
Statue of Giovanni delle Bande Nere
133 m
Osservatorio Ximeniano
162 m
Palazzo Neroni
160 m
Grand Hotel Majestic
179 m
Cappella dei Principi
20 m
Maison Gaddi
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Palazzo dei Cartelloni
156 m
Palazzo della Stufa
92 m
Door of the Martyrs
41 m
Monument to Giovanni delle Bande Nere
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Palazzo Benci
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Palazzo Arrighetti-Gaddi
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Palazzo Barbolani di Montauto
169 m
Stimmate oratory
51 m
Oratorio di San Giuseppe
145 m
Palazzo Aldobrandini
75 m
Teatro della Piazza vecchia
183 m
Torre in via de' Cerretani
182 m
Central Market
177 m
Municipality of Florenze
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