Medici Chapels

In 1429, Giovanni di Medici was buried in the basilica's sacristy, known as the Old Sacristy. Cosimo the Elder, his son and the first sole ruler of Florence, died in 1464 and was buried under the central altar of the same church. Since then, San Lorenzo became the Medici burial site. In 1520, the future Pope Clement VII commissioned Michelangelo to build a new tomb, the Sagrestia Nuova. Michelangelo worked on the project from 1519 to 1534 but was unable to complete it due to financial difficulties and political turmoil, including the Medici's expulsion in 1527 and the Siege of Florence in 1529. The Medici's restoration of power in 1531 forced Michelangelo to continue his work in the chapel. After Michelangelo moved to Rome, the chapel was completed according to his designs by his assistants Montorsoli and Raffaello da Montelupo. The construction of the chapel was part of a larger project to immortalize the grandeur of the Medici dynasty and showcase their contributions to art and culture.

Old Sacristy. The sacristy's main purpose is to store various church attributes and serve as a preparation area for services. However, in the San Lorenzo chapel, it is used differently — as the tomb of the Medici family founder, Giovanni di Bicci. This succinctly designed square room was created by architect Filippo Brunelleschi. The sacristy houses bronze busts depicting the deceased, with wood carvings on the entrance doors. Important Catholic relics located in the old vestry include:

• A silver cross from the year 877, used for processions;
• A reliquary of the Holy Martyrs from 1715;
• A vessel with the Holy Gifts belonging to Lorenzo Dolci (1787);
• An archbishop's coffin from 1622;
• Vessels with holy relics.

The New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, was intended for the burial of Medici family members. It is a small rectangular room, 12 by 28 meters, connected to the church by a narrow corridor. It has windows at the top and is covered by a dome on a low drum. The interior of this remarkable monument reflects Michelangelo's late style, notable for its unusual color scheme: light walls with lime whitewash and matte-gray stone detailing, a type of sandstone favored by Renaissance architects in Tuscany, contrasted with the warm, flesh-toned marble of the sculptures. The sacristy is famed for its Michelangelo sculptures, including the famous statues "Dawn" and "Dusk," "Day" and "Night," located in the tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici.

The Chapel of the Princes is the most luxurious room in the complex, a magnificent example of Baroque. It is adorned with marble, semi-precious stones, and a huge dome, serving as the burial place for the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

The Family Chapel contains several altars and is decorated with frescoes, highlighting the importance and influence of the Medici family in Florence.

The Duke of Nemours — the younger son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. His tomb is adorned with sculptures symbolizing the fleeting nature of time:

• "Day" – a young man with an athletic build. At first glance, the sculpture appears unfinished, but this is a deliberate technique by the artist, symbolizing the transitory and changeable nature of life plans;
• "Night" – an older woman, representing grief and the tragedy of events.

The sculpture of the Duke of Nemours himself is placed in a wall niche. The monument depicts a young man clad in Roman armor, sitting on a throne, contemplative and serene.

Special lighting is used in the tomb to create an atmosphere of peace and tragedy—thin rays enter through a single window in the ceiling.

This duke's grave is adorned with figures that continue the theme of the fleeting nature of time:

• "Morning" – a beautiful, strong woman showing signs of slight illness;
• "Evening" – an adult man with a clear mark of fatigue on his face.

In the wall of the vestry is a sculpture depicting the duke himself as an ancient Greek warrior in armor above his own tomb.

The Chapel of the Princes can also be accessed from the Piazza Madonna del Brandi, located on the opposite side of the San Lorenzo church. It houses the burials of six Tuscan Grand Dukes. Created in 1604 by Matteo Nigetti, its decoration was handled by masters of Pietra dura. The walls are inlaid with marble and semi-precious stone plates, creating whimsical ornaments. At the bottom are the coats of arms of Tuscan cities, with familial crests also placed on the tombs. The Medici dukes, founders of the banking system and famous moneylenders, thus have balls on their crests—symbols of the interest rates on loans. Along the chapel walls are six niches, but only two contain sculptures. The construction was not completed, and only the monuments of Ferdinando I and Cosimo II were installed.

The Medici Chapels serve not only as the final resting place for members of one of the most influential families of the Renaissance but also as an important testament to the development of art and architecture of the period. It attracts researchers, historians, and tourists from around the world, eager to explore the cultural heritage and artistic craftsmanship of the Renaissance.