Medici Chapel
Visit the Medici Chapel to see exquisite sculptures and tombs of Florence’s powerful Medici family.
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Visitor's guide
Must-see highlights & key info
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Skip the ticket queues to the Medici Chapels at your reserved time. See the ornate Chapel of the Princes and Michelangelo’s striking sculptures in the New Sacristy.
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Uncover the legacy behind one of Florence’s most powerful families at your own relaxed pace—no crowds, no rush.
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Upgrade your experience with a multilingual audio guide app available in English, for insights into ornate tombs, Medici legacy, and Michelangelo's architecture, adding depth to your visit.
More details
-
Skip the ticket queues to the Medici Chapels at your reserved time. See the ornate Chapel of the Princes and Michelangelo’s striking sculptures in the New Sacristy.
-
Uncover the legacy behind one of Florence’s most powerful families at your own relaxed pace—no crowds, no rush.
-
Upgrade your experience with a multilingual audio guide app available in English, for insights into ornate tombs, Medici legacy, and Michelangelo's architecture, adding depth to your visit.
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About Medici Chapels
The Medici Chapel, located within the Basilica of San Lorenzo, is a masterpiece of Renaissance art and architecture. This stunning chapel houses the tombs of the powerful Medici family, with intricate sculptures by Michelangelo and a magnificent dome in the Cappella dei Principi. Explore this historical marvel with skip-the-line access and guided tours for a deeper dive into Florence's rich heritage.
In 1975, a secret room was discovered comprising charcoal drawings attributed to Michelangelo. It is said that he hid in the tiny chamber for 2 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 family played a role in the creation of one of Italy's most beloved delicacies - gelato. In 1565, Florentine chef Bernardo Buontalenti, who worked for the Medici, invented modern gelato.
The chapel features Michelangelo's original wall designs, with a bold rearrangement of traditional architectural components. The sculptures are equally innovative, personifying abstract concepts in striking, muscular forms.
Why visit Medici Chapels?
Plan your visit
Main entrance
The Medici Chapels have a main entrance for the general public and a side entrance for wheelchair users off Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini.
Closed on:
- Tuesdays
- First, third, and fifth Monday of each month
- Second and fourth Sunday of each month
- January 1
- December 25
Last entry: 40 minutes before closing time
Free entry: First Sunday of each month
Coat check services are available at the entrance to the chapels with a deposit of 1€, which will be returned to you post your visit.
Lockers are available at the entrance to the chapels with a deposit of 1€, which will be returned to you post your visit.
You can rent audio guides in Italian and English for a certain fee.
The bookshop, located toward the exit, sells museum guides in different languages, art publications, and souvenirs.
Toilets are located inside the museum area.
The chapel staff is equipped to handle medical emergencies. If you need medical assistance, contact them.
Changing tables for babies are available near the toilets.
The chapels feature a ramp on the ground floor for seamless entry. Accessible restrooms are available. Scooters & electric wheelchairs are available but usage is determined on a case-by-case basis to ensure the safety of the space and artworks.
Prams and baby strollers are allowed inside the Medici Chapels.
Guide dogs and service animals are allowed inside.
There is an elevator to take you to the Chapel of the Princes on the first floor. A platform lift on the same floor is provided to access the New Sacristy.
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