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Basilica of San Lorenzo

Basilica of San Lorenzo

The Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy, situated at the centre of the main market district of the city, and it is the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III. It is one of several churches that claim to be the oldest in Florence, having been consecrated in 393 AD, at which time it stood outside the city walls. For three hundred years it was the city's cathedral, before the official seat of the bishop was transferred to Santa Reparata.

Basilica di San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo is one of Florence's oldest churches, consecrated in 393 AD, and served as the city's cathedral for three centuries before that role passed to Santa Reparata. Its main draw today is its connection to the Medici family: the basilica holds the tombs of the family's principal members, from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III, making it a central stop for understanding Medici Florence rather than just another church interior. The unfinished rough-stone façade is deliberate — Michelangelo's design for it was never built, so the plain exterior contrasts with the architecture inside.

Getting there

The basilica sits in the middle of the San Lorenzo market district, an easy walk from the Duomo — around 5 minutes on foot, roughly 400 meters. Most visitors reach it simply by walking from wherever they're staying in the historic center, as the area is pedestrian-friendly and well signposted.

How long to spend

Allow about 45 minutes to an hour for the basilica itself. If you also visit the Medici Chapels, which have a separate entrance, budget extra time — plan for closer to two hours total if combining both.

When to go

The surrounding streets host a busy market, so the area is crowded with stalls and foot traffic for most of the day, particularly late morning through afternoon. Arriving earlier in the day tends to mean fewer visitors inside the church itself and calmer conditions in the market streets outside.

Nearby

The basilica pairs naturally with sights in the immediate vicinity:

  • Medici Chapels (0.1km) — the Medici mausoleum, effectively an extension of a San Lorenzo visit
  • Tomb of Antipope John XXIII (0.2km) — a short walk toward the Baptistery
  • Florence Baptistery (0.2km) and Gates of Paradise (0.2km) — both a few minutes away, easily combined with the Duomo complex

Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

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Tickets & tours

Admission prices and opening hours change often, so we don't list them here. Check what's on sale and at what price below — booking ahead can cut the queue at some places.

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Stays near Basilica of San Lorenzo

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Basilica of San Lorenzo Nearby stays

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Good to visit alongside

Medici Chapels

Museums & galleries

Medici Chapels

The Medici Chapels are two chapels built between the 16th and 17th centuries as an extension to the Basilica of San Lorenzo, in the Italian city of Florence. They are the Sagrestia Nuova, designed by Michelangelo, and the larger Cappella dei Principi, a collaboration between the Medici family and architects. The purpose of the chapels was to celebrate the Medici family, patrons of the church and Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

0.1 km away
Tomb of Antipope John XXIII

Heritage & monuments

Tomb of Antipope John XXIII

The marble-and-bronze tomb monument of Antipope John XXIII was created by Donatello and Michelozzo for the Florence Baptistry adjacent to the Duomo. It was commissioned by the executors of Cossa's will after his death on 22 December 1419, and completed during the 1420s, establishing it as one of the early landmarks of Renaissance Florence. According to Ferdinand Gregorovius, the tomb is "at once the sepulchre of the Great Schism in the church and the last papal tomb which is outside Rome itself".

0.2 km away
Florence Baptistery

Temples & religious sites

Florence Baptistery

The Florence Baptistery, also known as the Baptistery of Saint John, is a religious building in Florence, Italy. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, John the Baptist, it has been a focus of religious, civic, and artistic life since its completion. The octagonal baptistery stands in both the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza San Giovanni, between Florence Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace.

0.2 km away
Gates of Paradise

Temples & religious sites

Gates of Paradise

0.2 km away
Giotto's Campanile

Views & landmarks

Giotto's Campanile

Giotto's Campanile is a free-standing campanile that is part of the complex of buildings that make up Florence Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo in Florence, Italy.

0.3 km away
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

Museums & galleries

Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence, Italy is a museum containing many of the original works of art created for Florence Cathedral, including the adjacent Florence Baptistery and Giotto's campanile. Most of the exterior sculptures have been removed from these buildings, usually replaced by replica pieces, with the museum conserving the originals.

0.3 km away