The Medici Chapels in Florence are part of the Basilica di San Lorenzo complex. While the New Sacristy in design and architecture is the work of Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Princely Chapel was designed by Bernardo Buontalenti and built by Matteo Nigetti. The Tombs of the Medici are among the most important sights in Florence and it is worth buying tickets and guided tours in advance online in order to not have to queue for a long time.
By Maurizio Massaro
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Tickets
Book tickets for the Medici chapels in advance.
Florence: Reserved Entrance Ticket to the Medici Chapel
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Medici Chapels Private Tour
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Florence: 1.5-Hour Medici Chapel Private Tour
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Florence: Medici Chapel Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket
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Tours
Learn more about the background of the monumental buildings and their art during a guided tour.
Florence: Medici Chapels Guided Tour
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getyourguide.com
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Medici Chapels Private Tour
4.8(37)
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Florence: 1.5-Hour Medici Chapel Private Tour
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getyourguide.com
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Florence: Medici Chapel Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket
4.6(40)
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2 tips for visiting the Medici Chapel
Sculptures by Michelangelo in the Medici chapels | Flickr: Brendan Campbell CC BY-SA 2.0
1
Save with the Firenzecard
The Firenzecard, valid for 72 hours, includes admission to many cultural attractions in Florence and is particularly interesting for families: children under 18 can enter museums for free with a parent who holds a Firenzecard.
Exterior facade of the complex
2
Get more background information
Written guides can be purchased at the entrance in the museum store - but open questions can be addressed even better during a guided tour by competent guides.
The Medici - The Most Powerful Dynasty of the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance
Starting as a patrician family profiting from the fabric trade in the 13th century, the Medici rose higher and higher, eventually providing 3 popes, the Grand Dukes of Tuscany and other rulers in Italy, Austria and France.
Sagrestia Nuova - New sacristy | Flickr: TheMarcusChance CC BY-SA 2.0
Monuments of a Ruling Family
Pope Leo X (actually Giovanni de' Medici) ordered the construction of the New Sacristy in 1520 as a monumental burial place for his deceased relatives - today the building can be visited in the complex of the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence and offers some impressive art treasures.
In the New Sacristy there are some sculptures made by Michelangelo to allegorically symbolize the different times of the day and many other works of art such as the unfinished Madonna and Child. The Medici mausoleum has been restored for over 10 years using the latest technology until 2021 and will continue to be preserved for posterity.
Cappella dei Principi - Princes' Chapel | Flickr: virtusincertus CC BY 2.0
To accommodate the tombs of other members of the powerful Medici family, such as Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Princely Chapel was built in the 17th century. The star architects of the time, Matteo Nigetti and Bernardo Buontalenti, were the executors here. The octagonal vault is decorated with frescoes of biblical scenes added by Benvenuti in 1828.
Basilica di San Lorenzo
The basilica and the old sacristy of the church were designed by another Florentine legend: Filippo Brunelleschi. It is considered an absolute milestone in Renaissance architecture and, like the rest of the complex, is worth a visit.
Tickets & Tours
It is worth buying tickets online in advance to avoid having to stand in line. However, guided tours are also offered, where art lovers and newcomers alike get their money's worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I plan to spend visiting the Medici Chapels?
You should allow about an hour to an hour and a half for a visit to the Medici chapels - it usually doesn't take much longer.
With what nearby attractions can you combine a visit to the Medici Chapels?
The Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio offers itself as another destination for the day. In this ancient palace, the Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred) is considered the main attraction. The Uffizi Gallery is also nearby.
Open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 am to 6:50 pm, with last entry 40 minutes before closing. Closed Mondays, December 25, 2026, and January 1, 2027. A special opening is scheduled for November 30, 2026, from 5:15 pm to 9:00 pm.
address
Medici Chapels Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6 50123 Firenze FI Italien
how to get there
The Basilica di San Lorenzo is within walking distance between the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and the Cathedral. Here is also the bus stop Pucci Duomo, served by lines 14 and 23.
Standard admission costs €11. The reduced ticket is €2 for EU citizens from age 18 through their 25th birthday; visitors under 18 enter free. An ordinary reservation is optional and costs €3. The combined ticket for Michelangelo’s Secret Room and the Medici Chapels costs €32 full-price or €7 reduced and requires a reservation; the 72-hour multi-museum ticket including the Medici Chapels costs €38. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month and on April 25, June 2, and November 4; reservations are suspended on free-admission days.
Written byMaurizio MassaroMaurizio is a cosmopolitan, a musician and comes around. In his role as a content manager at TicketLens, he is always striving to find new offers as well as writing about sights all over the world.