Verdict
Destinations
Attraction · Florence

San Lorenzo & Medici Chapels

The Medici parish church complex — Michelangelo's New Sacristy tombs and the opulent Chapel of Princes.

Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →
The verdict

Who it's worth it for

Great for
  • Travellers on a budget
  • If you've only got a day
  • Couples
  • Solo travellers
  • History & culture buffs
  • Photographers
  • The genuinely curious
Depends

Not for
  • Families with kids

Worth it for travellers on a budget, if you've only got a day and couples; not for families with kids.

Why we say this

Insider secrets & local vibes

Michelangelo built the New Sacristy as one composition — the half-awake Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk sprawled over the tombs make grief feel like physical weight; standing in it is unforgettable.
Not independently verified — estimated
The marble-clad Chapel of the Princes next door is the opposite register — overwhelming Baroque opulence.
Not independently verified — estimated
Basilica, Laurentian Library and Medici Chapels ticket separately — decide which parts you actually want before you go.
Not independently verified — estimated
What it feels like

Reading the room, traveller by traveller

  • Solo

    Rich for the committed — go straight for the New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes.

  • As a couple

    Worth the ticketing fuss for Michelangelo's tomb sculpture; decide in advance which parts you want.

  • With kids

    Dynastic tombs and dense sculpture don't hold younger children.

Good to know

Before you go

Cost
Medici Chapels €9; basilica €9 separately
Time
1.5–2 hours for both
Last verified
2026-06-17
Best time
Morning, before the leather-market crowds thicken around the complex.
Booking
Note the basilica, library and chapels need separate tickets — plan which you'll pay for.
Accessibility
Medici Chapels are largely step-free; the Laurentian Library has stairs.
Alternatives

If it's not your thing, try

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Sources

What we checked

  • Michelangelo designed the New Sacristy and its tomb sculptures (Day, Night, Dawn, Dusk)
  • Basilica, Laurentian Library and Medici Chapels require separate tickets
Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →