Florence Review
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Basilica di San Lorenzo

Basilica  di  San  Lorenzo


The importance of Florence in the history of arts was possible largely thanks to the patronage of artists and humanism of the Medici Family that ruled the city of Florence throughout the Renaissance. The traces of their legacy and their influence can be traced all around Florence, but the Basilica di San Lorenzo is an essential place to understand their story. 

The impressive building, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi (famous for the dome of Florence Cathedral) was the parish church of the Medici family (and it is their burial place), besides being the Cathedral of Florence for 300 years before it lost that status to Santa Reparata. The Basilica was built in 1419, on the site of one of the city's oldest churches. It was totally finished, except for its façade, that could not be completed even in spite of several attempts through the centuries.

In the 16th century Pope Leo X (son of Lorenzo de' Medici) promoted a contest for the ideal façade design and Michelangelo’s proposal was chosen. He started working on the project, made several studies and even made a wooden model, now on display in the Casa Buonarroti Museum. He even went himself to the Apuan Alps to chose the marble for the project. But the construction didn’t advance too much. Soon after the works started by orders of the Pope, he ordered to stop them. Since then numerous barriers blocked the project: jealousies between artists, problems of budget and unexpected deaths meant that for almost two centuries the project was forgotten and the façade didn’t became a reality. However, what was an unaddressed problem, with time turned out to be San Lorenzo’s particular feature and a symbol of the city: It is not anymore unfinished, but original. This sober surface, without ornaments, made of rough stone and horizontal lines still remains untouched and worth a visit.

Another unaccomplished project in San Lorenzo was the one to bring the Holy Sepulchre itself, as the attempts to buy and then steal it from Jerusalem failed. But inside it is not as outside; In the Sagrestia Vecchia (Old Sacristy) are the tombs of several members of the Medici family, as in the Sagrestia Nuova (New Sacristy), designed by Michelangelo. Also not to miss, the Cappelle Medici (Medici Chapels) in the apse and the Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes), from the 17th century, an impressive domed octagonal hall with the tombs of the grand dukes.

In the basilica’s cellar is now the Museum of the Treasure of San Lorenzo (Museo del Tesoro), where drawings by Jacopo da Pontormo, liturgical furnishings and reliquaries collected over the centuries can be appreciated. There are also the tombs of Giovanni di Bicci and Cosimo il Vecchio.

Also as a part of the complex is the Biblioteca Laurenziana (Medicea Laurenziana Library), an extraordinary example of Mannerist architecture designed by Michelangelo.  It was constructed to house the family’s various treasures and contains a precious collection of manuscripts and antique volumes  in Greek and Latin.

Just after the entrance you will see an astonishing stone stairway that leads to the vast reading hall, one of the few 16th century areas that are still preserved, as the lime wood ceiling and the magnificent windows with the Medici insignia designed by Giorgio Vasari prove. Check out the plutei (wooden benches), that functioned as book stands and cupboards; the codexes were stored horizontally on the lower shelves and fastened to the bench with chains to be consulted in-situ.

​Opening times:  
​

Monday to Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00      
Sunday: 13:30 - 17:30
Closed all Sundays from November to February
Prices: 

Basilica - €6 

Basilica and Medicea Laurenziana Library - €8.50
Category: Basilicas of Florence

Built: 1419

Architectural style: Romanesque-Renaissance 

Area: San Lorenzo

Close by: San Lorenzo Market, Florence Cathedral

​Walking distance from Piazza del Duomo: ​4 minutes
​Directions: By bus you can take any of the following route numbers: 1, 2, 12, 13, 28, 36, 37 or 57. If you come by car there are parking lots very close, including one under the San Lorenzo Market, just next to the basilica, or you can leave it in one of the many parking lots in the station area, as the basilica is no more than a 5 minutes walk from Santa Maria Novella Station. The tourist access is from the left-side door on the façade.


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Florence Review is part of the Italy Review network of websites, aimed at making life easier for English-speaking people travelling throughout Italy.
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      • Monuments of Florence >
        • Statue of David
        • Loggia dei Lanzi (Loggia della Signoria)
        • Fountain of Neptune
        • Arco di Trionfo dei Lorena
      • Famous Palazzi of Florence >
        • Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale
        • Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali
        • Palazzo Strozzi di Mantova
        • Universita degli Studi di Firenze
        • Palazzo dell'Arte della Lana
        • Accademia della Crusca
      • Brunelleschi's Dome
      • Vasari Corridor
      • Santa Maria Novella Station
      • Scalea del Monte alle Croci
      • River Arno
      • Fortezza Da Basso
    • Squares of Florence >
      • Piazza della Signoria
      • Piazza del Duomo
      • Piazzale Michelangelo
      • Piazza della Repubblica
      • Piazza Santa Croce
      • Piazza Santo Spirito
      • Piazza Santa Maria Novella
      • Piazza San Lorenzo
    • Bridges of Florence >
      • Ponte Vecchio
      • Ponte alle Grazie
      • Ponte Santa Trinita
      • Ponte alla Carraia
      • Ponte alla Vittoria
      • Ponte Amerigo Vespucci
      • Ponte San Niccolo
    • Gardens of Florence >
      • Boboli Gardens
      • Giardino Bardini
      • Giardino delle Rose
      • Giardino dell'Orticoltura
      • Giardino del Museo Stibbert
      • Medici Villa della Petraia
    • Markets of Florence >
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      • Sant'Ambrogio Market
      • Loggia del Mercato Nuovo
      • Mercato Centrale
    • Medieval Florence >
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      • Porta San Miniato
      • Porta San Gallo
      • Porta di San Frediano
      • Porta al Prato
      • Porta Romana
  • Florence Hotels
  • Florence
    • Areas of Florence >
      • Duomo
      • Signoria
      • Belvedere
      • Santo Spirito
      • Santa Croce
      • Santa Trinita
      • San Niccolo
      • San Frediano
      • San Lorenzo
      • San Marco
      • Santa Maria Novella
      • San Marco Vecchio
    • Famous Streets of Florence >
      • Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci
      • Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia
      • Lungarno delle Grazie
      • Via Calimala
      • Via dei Calzaiuoli
      • Via di San Niccolo
      • Via Roma
      • Via de Tornabuoni
    • Best Views of Florence