Museums & galleries
Medici Chapels
Medici Chapels
The Medici Chapels form the mausoleum of the Medici family, attached to the Basilica of San Lorenzo but entered separately from behind the church. Two spaces make up the visit: the Sagrestia Nuova, designed by Michelangelo, with his sculpted tomb figures for Medici family members, and the Cappella dei Principi, a much larger, ornately decorated octagonal hall built to glorify the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. The contrast between Michelangelo's restrained marble work and the opulent inlaid stone of the princes' chapel is the main reason to visit both.
Getting there
The chapels sit in the historic centre, an easy walk from Piazza del Duomo or Piazza della Signoria, roughly 10-15 minutes on foot. From Santa Maria Novella train station it's about a 5-10 minute walk. This is a central location, so a taxi or bus is rarely necessary.
How much time to allow
Plan for around 45 minutes to an hour, a bit longer if you want to study Michelangelo's tomb sculptures closely.
When to go
Mornings, right when it's possible to enter, tend to be quieter than midday. Because the entrance is separate from the basilica and the space is limited, it can feel crowded once tour groups arrive later in the day.
Combine with
- Basilica of San Lorenzo (0.1km) – the church the chapels were built to extend, right next door.
- Florence Baptistery and Gates of Paradise (both 0.3km) – a short walk toward the Duomo.
- Tomb of Antipope John XXIII (0.3km) – inside the Baptistery, easy to see on the same stop.
Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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