The Cappelle Medicee are the Medici family’s mausoleum, beside the Basilica of San Lorenzo in central Florence. Enter separately from the church to see two very different spaces: Michelangelo’s New Sacristy, with the tomb sculptures Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk, and the Chapel of the Princes, covered in colored marble and semi-precious stones. The chapels were built to honor the family and express its power; taking time with the sculpture and decoration gives the visit more depth. Read a little about Michelangelo and the Medici before you go.
Two Medici burial chapels
The Cappelle Medicee form part of the monumental complex of San Lorenzo, the church associated with the Medici family. The chapels were built as a family mausoleum and are reached through a separate entrance in Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini. Plan for a separate ticket if you also intend to visit the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
The complex includes the crypt, the New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes. Together, these spaces hold the family’s tombs and memorials. Their contrasting designs make the visit especially rewarding: Michelangelo’s sculptural and architectural work in the New Sacristy gives way to the richly patterned stone of the later chapel.
Michelangelo’s New Sacristy
Michelangelo received the commission in 1520 from Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici, later Pope Clement VII. The project was intended to honor his relatives Giuliano, Duke of Nemours, and Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino, as well as Giuliano the Elder and Lorenzo il Magnifico. The New Sacristy was Michelangelo’s first architectural work.
Look for the figures Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk on the tombs, along with the Madonna and Child. The sculptures are among the most closely observed works in the complex. Michelangelo planned an ambitious funerary setting, but did not complete the project; other artists finished parts of the work later. Give the room time, rather than trying to take in its sculpture at a glance.
The Chapel of the Princes
The Chapel of the Princes is a later Medici mausoleum, begun in 1605. Its interior is covered with colored marbles and semi-precious stones, set into an elaborate decorative scheme. The scale and materials make a marked contrast with the New Sacristy.
The chapel commemorates the Medici rulers and their family. Among those buried here are Francesco I, Ferdinando I and II, and Cosimo I, II and III. The New Sacristy, by contrast, contains the tomb of Lorenzo il Magnifico. Looking at the two spaces in sequence reveals different ways the family chose to present its memory.
FAQ
Is the entrance separate from the Basilica of San Lorenzo?
Yes. The chapels have a separate entrance in Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, and you need a separate ticket to visit them.
What is there to see in the Cappelle Medicee?
The complex includes Michelangelo’s New Sacristy, the Chapel of the Princes, and a crypt. Highlights include the tomb sculptures Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk, and the Chapel of the Princes’ marble and semi-precious stone decoration.
When is a quieter time to visit?
Go early in the day for a calmer visit.
How long should I spend there?
The available information does not give a typical visit duration. Allow enough time to look closely at the New Sacristy’s sculptures and details.
