Basilica di San Lorenzo

Overview

San Lorenzo is the Medici family's parish church, its austere unfinished facade hiding one of Brunelleschi's most harmonious interiors. The attached Medici Chapels—including Michelangelo's New Sacristy—are essential viewing.

Highlights

• Medici Chapels: Michelangelo's New Sacristy (1520–1534) with the allegorical sculptures Dawn, Dusk, Day, and Night on the Medici tombs.
• Laurentian Library: Michelangelo's dramatic entrance staircase—a sculptural tour de force.
• Brunelleschi's interior: Serene grey pietra serena columns against white plaster—the essence of early Renaissance architecture.

History

The original church was consecrated in 393 AD. Brunelleschi rebuilt it from 1421, and Michelangelo added the New Sacristy and Library vestibule under Medici patronage.

Visitor Tips

• Separate tickets: Church, Medici Chapels, and Library have different entrances and tickets.
• The Chapel of the Princes: A vast, marble-encrusted mausoleum—overwhelming in its opulence.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.