Florence: Medici Family Tour with Medici Chapels Access

Highlights

• Guided walking tour
• Medici Chapels
• Palazzo Medici Riccardi

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Florence

   Pass by

   Meet Your Guide and Start the Medici Walking Tour! Your experience begins at Via Cavour 18, where you will meet your professional monolingual guide, specialized in the Medici family. In a small group setting, you will enjoy a more personal and engaging tour, enhanced by the use of earphones so you won’t miss a single detail of the fascinating stories you are about to hear. From the very beginning, your guide will introduce the extraordinary rise of the Medici family, the dynasty that shaped the political, economic, and artistic destiny of Florence. Starting as bankers, the Medici became rulers, patrons of the arts, and powerful influencers across Europe. Names such as Cosimo de’ Medici (Cosimo the Elder), Lorenzo de’ Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent), and Cosimo I de’ Medici will accompany you throughout this journey into Renaissance Florence. This walking tour is entirely dedicated to discovering how deeply the Medici transformed Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance.

2. 2

   Palazzo Medici Riccardi

   Pass by

   Standing before Palazzo Medici Riccardi, you will admire one of the most important symbols of Medici power. Commissioned in the 15th century by Cosimo the Elder, the palace was designed by Michelozzo and became the official residence of the family. From the outside, your guide will explain how the building’s austere yet elegant façade reflects the Medici’s political intelligence: powerful but not overly ostentatious. This palace was the heart of Medici influence, where leading artists, philosophers, and politicians gathered under their protection. Here lived Lorenzo the Magnificent, one of the most important figures of the Renaissance, a patron of artists such as Michelangelo and Botticelli. The Medici were not only bankers — they were cultural visionaries whose support turned Florence into the artistic capital of Europe. Your specialized guide will highlight how this palace represents the foundation of Medici dominance and their crucial role in shaping Florence’s identity.

3. 3

   Piazza di San Lorenzo

   15min

   Follow your guide to Piazza San Lorenzo, and step into one of the most historic and Medici-centered areas of Florence. This square has been closely connected to the Medici family for centuries and reflects their profound influence over the city. Your guide will provide historical background on the square, once a lively marketplace and a focal point of Florentine social life. Special attention will be given to the statue of Giovanni delle Bande Nere, father of Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Giovanni was a famous military leader whose legacy strengthened the political power of the dynasty. Through stories of ambition, strategy, and vision, you will understand how the Medici family consolidated their authority not only through banking and politics but also through military and diplomatic power. Thanks to your small group and personal earphones, you will clearly follow every detail shared by your expert Medici guide.

4. 4

   Basilica di San Lorenzo

   30min

   The Basilica of San Lorenzo was the official church of the Medici family and one of the oldest churches in Florence. From the outside, your guide will explain the unfinished façade and its historical significance. Despite plans — including projects associated with Michelangelo — the façade was never completed, which makes it unique today. San Lorenzo became the spiritual center of the Medici dynasty. Inside the church (which you will learn about from outside), many important members of the family are buried. The church symbolizes the Medici’s dual role as political rulers and religious patrons. Figures such as Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent reinforced their public image through their support of religious institutions, strengthening both their prestige and Florence’s development. Your specialized guide will emphasize how the Medici shaped not only Florence’s politics but also its religious and architectural landscape.

5. 5

   Cappelle Medicee

   1h

   Finally, you will follow your guide inside the Medici Chapels, enjoying the access to one of the most extraordinary monuments of Florence. The Medici Chapels were conceived as a grand mausoleum for the family, celebrating their power and legacy. Inside, you will discover the Old Sacristy, designed by Brunelleschi, and the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo. Here rest some of the most important members of the dynasty, including Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino, and Giuliano de’ Medici. Michelangelo’s sculptures — including the allegories of Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk — represent not only artistic masterpieces but also powerful symbols of Medici authority and ambition. The chapels reflect the transformation of the Medici from influential bankers into Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

6. 6

   Cappelle Medicee

   15min

   With your monolingual, Medici-specialized guide and the support of earphones, you will fully appreciate how this family profoundly shaped Florence’s history. The Medici were not simply rulers — they were the architects of Florence’s golden age, and their legacy still defines the city today. At the end of the 2-hour guided tour, you are welcome to remain inside the Medici Chapels for as long as you wish, giving you plenty of time to fully admire the extraordinary architectural masterpieces preserved within. Take this opportunity to explore at your own pace, appreciate Michelangelo’s sculptures in greater detail, and immerse yourself in the grandeur and legacy of the Medici family without any rush.

Before you go

Location