San Lorenzo & Medici Chapels
Basilica di San Lorenzo
The Basilica di San Lorenzo (1419–1470) is the Medici family church — designed by Brunelleschi, financed by the Medici, and adorned with works by Donatello. The facade is unfinished (raw stone) — Michelangelo designed one that was never realized. The interior is a masterpiece of Early Renaissance architecture: clear lines, harmonious proportions, gray Pietra Serena columns against white plaster. In the Old Sacristy: Donatello's bronze reliefs and medallions. Admission: €7.
Cappelle Medicee (Medici Chapels)
The Medici Chapels are the most magnificent mausoleum of the Renaissance — here lie 49 members of the Medici family buried.
- Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes): An overwhelming octagonal space, completely clad with semi-precious stones (Commesso fiorentino) — jasper, lapis lazuli, porphyry, malachite. The opulence is almost overwhelming. Here lie the Medici Grand Dukes under massive sarcophagi.
- Sagrestia Nuova (New Sacristy): Michelangelo's architectural masterpiece (1520–1534) — a space that merges architecture and sculpture. The tombs of Giuliano and Lorenzo de' Medici with the famous allegories Day and Night, Dawn and Dusk are among the most moving creations by Michelangelo. The "Night" is particularly famous — Michelangelo wrote a poem in which she speaks.
Admission: €9. Access separate from the basilica (entrance at the back, Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini).
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
The Laurenziana Library was designed by Michelangelo (from 1524) — and its staircase is an architectural statement: flowing, organic forms of Pietra Serena, making the building a forerunner of the Baroque. The library itself houses one of the world's most valuable manuscript collections. Admission: €3.
Mercato Centrale
The Mercato Centrale (1874) in the large iron hall next to San Lorenzo is Florence's culinary heart. Two floors: Below, the traditional market with butchers, fishmongers, vegetable stalls, and truffle vendors. Above, the Food Hall (since 2014): Fresh pasta, pizza, lampredotto, gelato, Tuscan wine — all at stands run by local producers. Perfect for lunch: €8–15 per dish.
