The Secrets of the Medicy Family

They were the most powerful and influential family in the world.

They bankrolled the Renaissance and ignited the Reformation. They were soldiers, bankers, politicians and Popes and they dominated Europe for 300 years: They were the Medicis.

They paid for Michelangelo sculpture lessons, supported Leonardo Da Vinci and protected Galileo from the Inquisition, changing our vision of the heavens forever. But for over 300 years they were also a family with a dark side: some were said to have murdered their wives and some to have killed their brothers. Now you have the chance to find out what really happened within the walls of their palaces.

MEETING POINT WITH YOUR LOCAL GUIDE: To be decided.

DURATION: 4-6 hours

THE WALKING TOUR CAN INCLUDE:

  • PALAZZO MEDICI-RICCARDI
  • SAN LORENZO CHURCH
  • MEDICI CHAPELS
  • PALAZZO VECCHIO
  • PITTI PALACE (exterior)

We start our adventure from PALAZZO MEDICI-RICCARDI, the main residence of the first branch of the Medici family and one of the most significant examples of Renaissance architecture. This is where Michelangelo lived for a while, since he was a close friend of Lorenzo the Magnificent and where the members of the Medici House were perfectly portrayed in the famous “Magi Chapel” by Benozzo Gozzoli.

Our next stop is SAN LORENZO BASILICA: it was the first Cathedral of Florence built in the 4th century AD and it became the Medici private church in the 15th century, when it was redesigned by Filippo Brunelleschi. San Lorenzo is also the burial place of the Medici ancestors, Giovanni di Bicci and Piccarda Boeri, and of Piero, father of Lorenzo the Magnificent. It houses Renaissance masterpieces by Donatello, Verrocchio, Brunelleschi and Bronzino.

On the backside of this beautiful church we find the MEDICI CHAPELS: the private mausoleum of the Medici Grand Dukes, where you can admire the magnificent Chapel of the Princes and Michelangelo’s New Sacristy with the remains of Lorenzo the Magnificent, his brother and other members of the Medici family.

We continue our tour to PALAZZO VECCHIO, the symbol of Florence’s political center and beautiful example of Medieval architecture. In the 16th century it was turned by Cosimo I de Medici into a real palace, making it the family residence, and now you can admire inside amazing sculptures and paintings by Michelangelo, Giambologna and Ammannati among the others.

We end our tour at PALAZZO PITTI, the last residence of the Medici family.