The extraordinary Medici family ruled Florence and later Tuscany from the late XIV to the early XVIII century, first as prominent citizens with no official role in city life and then as Grand Dukes of Tuscany.
Apart from the original Medici house, which was demolished in the late XIX century, together with many other important monuments in the city centre, virtually every other building associated with the family stands.
These include Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, the private city home built for Cosimo the Elder by the architect Michelozzo and considered as a gem of Renaissance architecture.
In front of the Palace stands the Medici church par excellence, San Lorenzo. Its ensemble includes the famous museum and the Medici Chapels. The family owned a series of villas in Tuscany as well, some now within the larger Florence perimeter, such as Castello, La Petraia, Careggi, the Villa Medici in Fiesole and others spread over the former Grand Duchy.
Besides Michelozzo, many great artists worked for the Medici family. Michelangelo did extensive work on the Medici Chapels and Laurentian Library, at San Lorenzo, Benozzo Gozzoli decorated the Chapel of the Magi at the family home, Botticelli painted his famous Primavera and Birth of Venus for one of the villas, Vasari designed the building of the Uffizi Gallery as well as the Vasari Corridor, connecting the Uffizi with Pitti Palace.
This guided tour takes us to visit the Medici-Riccardi Palace, where we can admire bright and colourful frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Chapel of the Magi, and the Gallery of Mirrors, an outstanding work of Luca Giordano in Baroque style.
After visiting the Palace, the guided tour brings us to the city centre, where we can see other Florentine monuments connected with Medici: San Lorenzo, Palazzo Vecchio (the Old Palace) and the Uffizi Gallery. During the tour we cross the Ponte Vecchio, seeing the Vasari Corridor, and finish this guided visit at Piazza Pitti, in front of the Pitti Palace, the former residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.
Medici Riccardi Palace - external view
I can also suggest a full-day guided tour (up to 6 hours): the Medici itinerary might be seemlessly connected with visits to the Palazzo Vecchio (the Old Palace), the Pitti Palace (the New Palace), the Church of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels. Please contact me, and we will create the complete programme for your visit.
Some useful tips:
- Tickets: it is not necessary to book in advance, the lines are not long.
- Length of this guided tour: from 2 to 6 hours, depending on your needs. Standard visit is considered to be 3 hours, the rate is 165.00 euros.
- Price: from € 120 to 320, depending on the length and the size of the group.
Or see other guided tours I offer:
