Museo: Cappelle Medicee

What are the Medici Chapels?

The Medici Chapels are located in Florence, inside the Church of San Lorenzo. These are very special rooms, built to remember and honor a truly important family: the Medici. This family ruled Florence for many years and is famous for having supported numerous artists, scientists, and thinkers in creating beautiful works. The Chapels comprise two parts: the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, and the Chapel of the Princes, constructed later with plenty of rich and colorful decorations. In the New Sacristy are the tombs of some famous members of the family, while the Chapel of the Princes is larger and very decorated, adorned with colorful marbles and precious stones. Visiting the Medici Chapels is like taking a journey into the past, discovering the life of one of the most powerful families in Florence and how important art was to them.

The New Sacristy and the Tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano

The New Sacristy is one of the most fascinating parts of the Medici Chapels. It was designed by Michelangelo, one of the greatest Italian artists of all time. Michelangelo not only constructed the room but also sculpted the statues that adorn the tombs. Here lie the tombs of Lorenzo the Magnificent and his brother Giuliano, two important members of the Medici family. Next to these tombs are very distinctive statues representing moments of the day and night, such as Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Night. Michelangelo sculpted these figures as if they were alive, with muscles, movements, and very realistic expressions. These statues are not only beautiful; they also encourage us to reflect on the passage of time, life, and death. Michelangelo used art to convey deep emotions in a way that we can still admire today, even though more than 500 years have passed!

What is the New Sacristy like?

The New Sacristy is not only beautiful for the statues it contains; it is also a true masterpiece of architecture, referring to how it was designed and constructed. It was conceived by Michelangelo, who was not only a great sculptor but also an excellent architect. The room is square-shaped and features a large dome above, a type of round and high roof that allows natural light to enter from above. This ensures that the light illuminates the statues in a special way, creating shadows and reflections that make them appear even more lifelike. Michelangelo planned everything down to the finest details: even the columns and wall decorations are not there just for beauty but to guide our gaze towards the center of the room, where the Medici tombs are located. Every part of the Sacristy has a purpose, and together, they create an environment that is both tranquil and highly significant. This method of construction was new for its time and inspired many other artists in the centuries that followed. Michelangelo managed to blend art and architecture like few others in history!

Michelangelo's Secret Room

Near the New Sacristy, there is a mysterious small room that remained hidden for a very long time. It was only discovered in 1975 by a scholar who was exploring the Medici Chapels. No one knew it existed! This very small room, without windows, became famous because its walls are adorned with drawings probably made by Michelangelo. Faces, bodies, and sketches resembling the statues he sculpted for the tombs of the New Sacristy can be seen. It is believed that Michelangelo hid there around 1530, during a difficult period for him: he was afraid that the Medici might want to punish him because he had supported the Republic of Florence against them. Perhaps he lived in that room for a while, in secret, and continued to draw so as never to stop creating. Although today it is not easy to enter the room in order to protect it, photos and reconstructions can be seen. This discovery reveals a more human side of Michelangelo: not only as a great artist but also as a man who, even in difficult times, found comfort in drawing and art.

The Chapel of the Princes

The Chapel of the Princes is one of the most important halls in the complex of the Medici Chapels. It was constructed between the late 16th century and the early decades of the 17th century to house the tombs of the Grand Dukes of the Medici family. This is a very large and richly decorated space, designed to showcase the power and wealth that the family had achieved. The walls are clad with exquisite marbles and hard stones of various colors, sourced from different parts of Europe. These materials were cut and fitted using a highly precise technique known as Florentine commesso, which allows for the creation of intricate decorative patterns, such as geometric and floral figures. The final effect is highly elaborate and refined. The chapel also serves a symbolic function: in addition to housing the tombs, it represents the importance of the Medici dynasty in the governance of Tuscany. All decorative elements were chosen to convey the strength, continuity, and legitimacy of the family's power. The actual tombs are not clearly visible, as they are hidden behind the decorative structures or beneath the floor, but each is linked to a member of the family. Today, this chapel is one of the most visited sites in the museum and provides a clear example of how art and power were closely intertwined during the Baroque period.

The Little Lantern: The Dome of the Chapel

Above the Chapel of the Princes, there is a very tall dome, crowned by a small architectural element called the Lantern. This element primarily serves to allow natural light to enter from above, illuminating the interior of the chapel. The Lantern is adorned with motifs that evoke the Medici family, such as coats of arms, geometric figures, and floral decorations. Although it is just a part of the structure, it plays an important role from both a practical and symbolic perspective. The light entering from above highlights the marbles and precious stones and creates a solemn atmosphere, fitting for a place that houses the grand dukes' tombs. The creation of the Lantern required the work of expert architects and artists, who skillfully combined decoration, function, and meaning in a single project. Along with the dome, it represents one of the most significant architectural elements of the chapel. Even though it is not easily observable in detail from below, the Lantern is an integral part of the decorative ensemble and was designed to complete the monumental appearance of the Chapel of the Princes.

The Lorrain Crypt

Beneath the Chapel of the Princes lies the Lorraine Crypt, a space constructed at the end of the eighteenth century to house the tombs of the Lorraine family, who ruled Tuscany after the Medici. The crypt was designed by architect Gaspare Maria Paoletti in 1791 and features a simple and essential architecture. Unlike the upper chapel, the walls here are bare and lack elaborate decorations. The atmosphere is sober and silent, with low lighting and minimal visual elements. The tombs, made of dark marble, are arranged along the walls or at the center of the hall and are marked by inscriptions in Latin or Italian. Among the figures buried here is Pietro Leopoldo I, known for introducing significant reforms during his reign. The Lorraine Crypt represents a change in style and era: transitioning from the splendor and celebration of the Medici to a more reserved and collected form of memory. This space also demonstrates how the different ruling families of Tuscany chose distinct ways to represent themselves and their role in history. Though less known to visitors, the crypt is an integral part of the museum and bears witness to the continuity of Florentine history, bridging two very different periods.