Medici Chapels

The Basics

The powerful Medici family commissioned Brunelleschi to design the Florentine basilica of San Lorenzo in the 1400s. Today the Medici Chapels (Cappelle Medicee) are what most visitors come to see. The New Sacristy houses tombs carved by Michelangelo to depict the reclining figures of Night and Day and Dawn and Dusk. The ornate domed Chapel of the Princes contrasts with colorful marble and semiprecious stone and is filled with carved niches, statues, and armorial plaques.

The Medici Chapels are among the most popular attractions in the city, and booking a Medici Chapels tour that includes skip-the-line entrance tickets to the chapels and crypts is essential to avoid the entrance lines. Many Florence sightseeing walking tours and shore excursions also visit highlights such as Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia), and Piazzale Michelangelo.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Tickets to the Medici Chapel Museum in the Basilica of San Lorenzo include entrance to the two chapels, Medici and Lorenese crypts, and Basilica Treasury.

• There is wheelchair access to both the ground-floor crypts and the chapels above.

• To enter the church, you must wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.

• Large bag and backpacks must be left at the free coat check at the entrance.

How to Get There

The Medici Chapels in the Basilica of San Lorenzo are located on Piazza San Lorenzo, just a few minutes’ walk north of Florence Cathedral (the Duomo) or east of the Santa Maria Novella train station.

When to Get There

Expect the Medici Chapels in the San Lorenzo Basilica complex to be crowded during summer; visit in spring or fall for fewer tourists. If visiting on a Monday or Sunday, note that the chapels are closed on the second and fourth Sunday and the first, third, and fifth Monday of every month.

The Sumptuous Life of the Medicis

Experience the wealth and power of the Medici family during the Renaissance by visiting the nearby 15th-century Medici Riccardi Palace. Once home to Cosimo de' Medici, today it’s a museum with richly furnished apartments and libraries including the Galleria, with baroque paintings under the frescoed ceiling by Luca Giordano, and the Chapel of the Magi.

Ways to explore

Though the Medici Chapels are located inside the Basilica of San Lorenzo, they have a separate entrance and require a different ticket. Reservations with skip-the-line entry are a must for the popular museum, and they’re the only way to see Michelangelo’s “secret room” covered in the artist’s wall drawings.

Private tours of the Medici Chapels are ideal for Renaissance history buffs, who can learn more about Florence’s former ruling family on Medici-themed walking tours. These experiences often include visits to the Pitti Palace, Palazzo Vecchio, and Vasari Corridor, among other city highlights.

Accessibility

The Medici Chapels are wheelchair accessible, with an elevator and platform lift available for reaching the upper floors.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Only bring essentials you can carry on your person, as you’ll need to leave any large bags in the cloakroom.

What to wear

Be sure to wear clothing that covers your knees and shoulders if you plan to visit the rest of the Basilica of San Lorenzo complex.

Not allowed

Backpacks and bulky bags, tripods, outside food and drink

Amenities

Audio guides, cloakroom, bookshop, restrooms

Address

The Medici Chapels in the Basilica of San Lorenzo are located in Piazza San Lorenzo, near the Florence Duomo and Santa Maria Novella train station. You can get there on foot or by taxi, bus, or a guided tour.

Driving

Only those with a special permit can drive in Florence’s historic center. Fortunately, taxis are widely available by app and phone call to get you to the Medici Chapels.

Public transportation

The Cappelle Medicee bus stop is just outside the museum. Get there on the C1 line, which runs through central Florence past the Duomo and other major attractions.

Best times to visit

The Medici Chapels let in a limited number of people per time slot, so you can expect manageable crowds whenever you visit.

Best days to visit

Save money by visiting on free-admission days. (The first Sunday of every month.) The chapels are closed on Tuesdays.

Best months to visit

The Medici Chapels have year-round appeal, but they—along with Florence’s other top sights—are least crowded in the shoulder season of November–March.

Special events

Keep an eye on the museum’s website for special openings, which allow you to visit the chapels’ ornate tombs late into the evening.