The Basilica of San Lorenzo houses a jewel of great value: the Medici Chapels. A burial place for members of the Medici family, they are famous for housing the tombs of Giuliano and Lorenzo de' Medici, made by Michelangelo in the New Sacristy, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and sculptures, which the artist created from the plan of the sacristy by Brunelleschi, later called the Old Sacristy. The structure was completed in 1524, featuring its white walls and stone details.
The Medici Chapels are divided into three distinct parts: the crypt, the Chapel of the Princes and the New Sacristy. In the crypt, less illustrious members of the family were buried. The Chapel of the Princess is topped by a large dome designed by Buontalenti and was begun in 1604 but finished only in the twentieth century. Here, six Grand Dukes of Tuscany were buried. This mausoleum is a rare example of the Baroque style in Florence; its sumptuous interior – completely covered with marble and semi-precious stones – was conceived as a monument to the greatness of the Medici. Undoubtedly, the Medici Chapels are worth a visit!
