Medici Family Chapels and Florence Walking Tour
Reveal powerful dynasty secrets with pre-reserved tickets, Michelangelo masterpieces, and a guide
Step inside the opulent world of the Renaissance with a look at the dynasty that defined Florence. This tour begins at the Medici Chapels, to will admire the intricate marble-inlaid walls of the Chapel of the Princes and the legendary sculptures in the New Sacristy. Afterward, follow the family's rise through the streets, passing Palazzo Medici Riccardi and the historic Duomo. It's the most intriguing way to see how banking ambition transformed a medieval city into an artistic masterpiece.
What You Get With This Tour
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Medici money meets masterpiece
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Expert English-speaking guide
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Medici Chapels timed entry tickets
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Michelangelo’s New Sacristy Chapel timed entry tickets
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Guided walking tour of Medici Family history
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Guide tips
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Palazzo Medici Riccardi and San Lorenzo entry
Tour Itinerary
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1
Meet your guide at the Medici Chapels
Your tour begins at Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini at the entrance to the chapels. You’ll meet your guide and receive an introduction to the Medici family while preparing for your timed entry into the grand mausoleum. -
2
Step into the Medici Chapels
Walk into the final resting place of the most powerful family in Florence history. Your guide explains how these burial sites served as a massive advertisement for their wealth and why this site remains one of the most expensive rooms ever built. -
3
Study Michelangelo’s New Sacristy sculptures
Inside the New Sacristy (Sagrestia Nuova) burial chapel, you’ll see famous marble statues of Night, Day, Dawn, and Dusk. Your guide explains why Michelangelo carved these muscular figures for the Medici tombs and how he used art to show his complicated feelings toward the family. -
4
Admire the marble-inlaid Chapel of the Princes
Next, you’ll enter a massive chapel covered entirely in semi-precious stones and polished marble. You’ll learn about the intense labor required to cut these hard stones into colorful patterns and why the Medici used this jewelry-like decor to impress their visitors. -
5
Pass Palazzo Medici Riccardi and San Lorenzo exteriors
Back outside, you’ll see the family’s original home and the neighborhood they controlled. Your guide shows you how the massive stone blocks of their palace were designed to look both wealthy and safe, helping the family keep a firm grip on the city. -
6
Follow Medici power through Duomo and Signoria squares
Walk through Piazza del Duomo to see the famous cathedral and then head to the main city square. You’ll hear about the famous 1478 assassination attempt on the family and see the fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio, where the Medici eventually lived and ruled. -
7
Your tour finishes at Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini
The journey concludes by circling back to the starting point near the San Lorenzo market area. You will leave with a clear map of how the Medici family transformed Florence from a banking center into the birthplace of the Renaissance.
Additional Information
Good to know:
Accessibility: Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible. Strollers are typically accessible, but the route includes uneven streets and standing throughout.
Bag policy: Large bags and backpacks are not allowed inside the Medici Chapels, so please leave them at your accommodation.
Please note: Tickets are timed and expire within five to 10 minutes of the entry time, so late arrivals cannot be accommodated once the tour has started.
Monument Entry: Palazzo Medici Riccardi and San Lorenzo entry is not included on this tour.
Tour schedule: This tour runs every day except Tuesdays. It does not run on the first Sunday of the month.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your 2-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Pre-booked entry to the Medici Chapels
Pre-booked entry to Michelangelo’s New Sacristy
Medici Family history guided walking tour
Exterior views of Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Exterior views of the Basilica of San Lorenzo
Maximum group size of 14
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Comfortable walking shoes
Water bottle
Camera
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour family friendly?
Yes. Children are welcome. Keep in mind the tour involves two hours of walking and standing.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible. If you have mobility concerns, please contact us in advance.
How much walking is involved?
This is a two-hour guided walking tour with periods of standing inside the Medici Chapels and while listening in Florence’s main squares. Comfortable walking shoes help on stone streets.
Do I need to arrive early?
Yes. Please arrive 15 minutes early since entry tickets are timed and late arrivals cannot join once the tour starts.
Do we enter Palazzo Medici Riccardi and San Lorenzo?
While you will visit and discuss these monuments from the exterior with your guide, entry inside is not included.
