Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of Florence’s oldest churches, in Piazza di San Lorenzo in the city’s historic centre. Its plain, unfinished exterior gives little hint of the balanced Renaissance interior designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Inside, look for the Old Sacristy, with sculpture by Donatello, and the church’s artworks and Medici tombs. The wider complex includes the Medici Chapels, where Michelangelo’s sculptures and the family’s burial history add another layer to the visit. Pair the basilica and chapels if you want to explore San Lorenzo’s close ties to the Medici.
A church shaped by the Medici
The site’s history reaches back to a church consecrated in 393. The present basilica took shape in the 15th century, when the Medici family commissioned Filippo Brunelleschi to redesign their parish church. Its role as a place of worship and a family burial place ties the building closely to Florence’s political history.
The basilica was once Florence’s cathedral and later became the Medici family’s parish church. Members of the family are buried in the church complex, which also includes the Medici Chapels. The basilica and chapels are distinct parts of the site, so plan to visit both if you want a broader view of the family’s connection to San Lorenzo.
Inside Brunelleschi’s design
Brunelleschi’s interior is known for its symmetry and measured proportions. The calm arrangement gives the church a different character from its rough, unfinished exterior. Take time to look at how the architectural elements fit together, as well as the Renaissance art, sculptures and tombs inside.
The Old Sacristy, or Sagrestia Vecchia, is one of the central works in the complex. Brunelleschi designed it, and Donatello contributed sculptural decoration. It brings architecture and sculpture together in a space commissioned by the Medici and used for their family tombs.
The unfinished façade and wider complex
The bare façade is one of San Lorenzo’s most recognisable features. Michelangelo was commissioned to design a marble front, but the project was never completed. The contrast between the plain exterior and the ordered interior is part of what makes the church distinctive.
The wider complex also includes the Laurentian Library, designed by Michelangelo, and the Medici Chapels. The New Sacristy is associated with Michelangelo, while the chapels hold the tombs of Medici family members. These separate spaces give visitors more ways to trace the work of Florence’s Renaissance artists and the family that supported them.
Preguntas frecuentes
Who designed Basilica di San Lorenzo?
Filippo Brunelleschi designed the Renaissance church. The complex also includes work by Donatello and Michelangelo.
Why is the façade unfinished?
Michelangelo designed a marble façade for the church, but the design was never carried out. The building’s exterior remains bare brick.
Are the Medici Chapels part of the visit?
They are in the wider San Lorenzo complex, but visiting the basilica and the Medici Chapels involves separate tickets.
