🏛️ Tickets to San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels: prices and hours

The Basilica of San Lorenzo is easy to miss on the way to the Duomo. Its facade is gray and deliberately unfinished, with no marble cladding. Yet inside you will find much of the Medici family's legacy.

Entry to the basilica complex is paid (as of 09/2026, complex page). The adjacent Medici Chapels with the tombs by Michelangelo are sold separately, and you usually buy these two tickets together.

Below we break down what to see in the complex, how the Old Sacristy differs from the New Sacristy, and how to get in without a long line.

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The essentials on the Basilica of San Lorenzo

💡 In short:

Entry to the basilica complex costs 9 €, and a ticket to the Medici Chapels with Michelangelo's New Sacristy costs 11 €.
The complex is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:30, with last entry at 16:30.
In one visit you see the church, the Old Sacristy, the cloisters, the treasury, and the crypt.
Tickets and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the Opera Medicea Laurenziana website.

San Lorenzo consists of several parts, not a single museum. The complex includes the church itself, Brunelleschi's Old Sacristy, the cloisters, the Museo del Tesoro, the crypt, and the underground areas. The New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes, meaning the Medici Chapels, belong to the Bargello Museums and require a separate ticket (Medici Chapels tickets), which you buy right at the entrance.

History: from an early Christian church to the Medici

The first church on this site appeared in the late 4th century AD. It was commissioned by Ambrose, the Archbishop of Milan. More than fifteen hundred years have passed since then, and today it is one of the oldest churches in Florence.

It housed the relics of two saints. Lawrence was a Roman deacon who died during the persecutions of Emperor Valerian. Zenobius became the first bishop of Florence, and according to tradition he had the gift of healing. It was the relics of Lawrence that gave the church its second name.

The full Italian name is Basilica di San Lorenzo. Literally, that is the Basilica of Saint Lawrence. In guidebooks you will see both the full name and the short form "San Lorenzo."

Until the early 7th century, San Lorenzo was the city's main cathedral. Later that status passed to Santa Maria del Fiore, the future Duomo. The original building stood almost until the 11th century.

Facade of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence

In the 11th century the church fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in the Romanesque style. Money for the work was raised by the whole city, which is why the basilica of that period is called the people's church. The simple early structure gave way to a more austere appearance with blank walls.

The next chapter of the story is tied to Giovanni di Bicci, the head of the Medici family. He planned to establish a family burial place here and commissioned Filippo Brunelleschi to carry out the rebuilding. It was Brunelleschi who designed the plan for the future building and its interior layout.

In 1421 a large-scale construction project began on the site (complex portal). For seven years Brunelleschi built the Old Sacristy, and the word "sacristy" itself comes from Italian and means a room for sacred vessels and objects.

A sacristy is used as a vestry near the altar. It stores clergy vestments, books, prayer books, and vessels for services. The priest comes out from here to the congregation and returns here after Mass.

The Old Sacristy also became the site of the first Medici burial. The plan was for Brunelleschi to continue rebuilding the entire church after that. It did not happen: Giovanni di Bicci died and was buried in the new burial place, and the money for construction ran out.

Work resumed only in 1441, under Cosimo de' Medici, Giovanni's son. The architect was Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, and construction lasted about twenty years, until 1461 (complex archive).

A few years later, Cosimo de' Medici died and was also buried in the basilica's crypt. From then on, all members of the family were buried here. This is how San Lorenzo became the Medici family mausoleum.

About sixty years passed, and Pope Leo X, also a Medici, decided to expand the church and commissioned Michelangelo Buonarroti for the work. In 1520, he began the New Sacristy, where subsequent Medici family members were to be buried.

Michelangelo arranged the space differently from the accepted norm and placed the tombs along the walls rather than in the center of the hall. He also designed the tombstones and built a small chapel inside.

The master was also supposed to redesign the basilica's main facade. Michelangelo wanted to clad it in Carrara marble, while the Medici insisted on Pietrasanta marble. The dispute came to nothing, and the architect abandoned the project.

That is why the facade of San Lorenzo remained plain, without cladding. In the 15th century, bronze pulpits by Donatello were added to the basilica, and the last major addition was the Chapel of the Princes, built in the 17th century to a design by Matteo Nigetti.

Today, San Lorenzo operates as an active Catholic church and museum complex. Masses are held here, and tourists view several exhibitions at once, so lines can be long and you are better off arriving at opening time.

Architecture: a stark facade without cladding

In the 15th century, the facades of Florence's churches were decorated with marble, reliefs, and statues. Against that backdrop, San Lorenzo looks deliberately austere. Blank ivory-colored stone walls, straight lines, orange domes, and small arched windows.

Unclad stone facade of the Basilica of San Lorenzo

This simplicity is exactly what defines the basilica's character. The cladding was never completed, so the building stands as Brunelleschi originally envisioned it, and the bare facade reminds you of Michelangelo's dispute with the Medici over marble.

Interior: three naves and marble

Interior of the Basilica of San Lorenzo: nave, columns, pews

Inside, the basilica has three naves separated by columns installed by the architect Vasalletto. Geometric patterns are visible on the floor and ceiling, and marble, gilding, and rich decoration are everywhere.

The central hall is especially beautiful in sunlight, when light streams through the arched windows. Every room here deserves individual attention, so take your time: you still have the chapels and the library ahead of you.

What to see inside

Most of the interior decoration is concentrated in a few rooms. In the basilica you visit the Old Sacristy, the cloister, and the Laurentian Library. The New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes belong to the Medici Chapels, which have a separate entrance.

Old Sacristy

The Old Sacristy was built by Brunelleschi, and the interior decoration was created by Donatello. He made the bas-reliefs on biblical subjects and the colored medallions under the arched lunettes. He worked here in 1442.

What to look for: the depiction of the starry sky on the inside of the dome.
Who is buried here: Giovanni di Bicci with Piccarda, as well as Piero and Giovanni de' Medici; their tomb was created by Verrocchio.
Important: the room is included in the complex ticket, no extra payment needed.

New Sacristy

The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo himself, and it took about fifteen years. People come here from all over the world to see his sculptures. This is one of the master's best works of his entire life.

What to look for: the allegories of Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk, as well as the Madonna and Child above Giuliano's tomb.
Who is buried here: Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici.
The catch: this is already the Medici Chapels with a separate ticket, not part of the basilica complex.

Chapel of the Princes

The Chapel of the Princes is crowned by the basilica's tallest dome, the third largest in Florence. The walls here are clad in expensive marble, with Medici coats of arms set into it. The dome was frescoed by Pietro Benvenuti.

What to look for: the marble cladding with coats of arms and two statues, Cosimo de' Medici and Ferdinand I.
Important: the further decoration was never completed, so there are fewer statues here than planned.
Who is buried here: the remaining members of the Medici family.

Laurentian Library

The Laurentian Library was commissioned by Pope Clement VII de' Medici, and it was again designed by Michelangelo. This is one of his most famous architectural works. It houses a large collection of ancient books and manuscripts, some of them extremely rare.

What to see: the unusual staircase, whose steps seem to flow downward, and the manuscript hall.
Important: the library operates as a working library, the reading room is open only by appointment, maximum 10 people per day (library schedule).
The catch: getting inside is harder than getting into the basilica itself.

Cloister

The cloister connects the basilica and the library. It is small but beautiful in its own way: an orange tree grows in the center, with trimmed shrubs radiating out from it.

How to find it: the exit to the cloister is on the side of the Laurentian Library.
The catch: without a separate exhibition, it is just a passageway, you won't spend much time here.

Tickets and opening hours

Tickets for San Lorenzo are not straightforward: there is no single ticket for the whole complex. Each site is paid for separately, and that's worth planning for in advance.

Site	Ticket	What's included
Basilica complex	9 € (as of 09/2026)	church, Old Sacristy, cloisters, Museo del Tesoro, crypt and underground areas (complex prices and hours)
Medici Chapels	11 €, reduced 2 € (as of 09/2026)	Michelangelo's New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes (official prices)
Stanza segreta di Michelangelo	32 €, by appointment only (as of 09/2026)	charcoal drawings on the walls beneath the New Sacristy (tickets with a guided tour)
Laurentian Library	by prior appointment only	reading room with rare manuscripts (appointment rules)

The complex is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:30, with the last entry at 16:30. Closed on January 1, January 6 and August 10; otherwise the schedule is stable. We checked the hours on 14.09.2026 on the visitor page.

You can buy a complex ticket directly at the ticket office by the entrance; there is no need to book it in advance. Online booking makes sense for guided tours. For the Medici Chapels, B-ticket is available, with a booking fee of 3 € (B-ticket booking). On the first Sunday of the month, the Bargello museums are free.

The basilica is an active church, and masses are held here on Sundays. Entry to the church for worship is free, and you do not need a ticket. Children under 12 and visitors with disabilities enter free of charge (visiting rules).

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Where it is and how to get there

Address: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9. The basilica stands in the historic center, on the square that bears its name. The San Lorenzo market operates nearby, so you are unlikely to walk past it.

From the Duomo to San Lorenzo is about 400 m, a 5-minute walk (on the map). From Santa Maria Novella station it is roughly 850 m, or a 10-12 minute walk (on the map). Taking transport from the center makes little sense; it is faster to walk.

Basilica of San Lorenzo on the map

Address for your navigator: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9, Firenze.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter the Basilica of San Lorenzo?

The basilica complex costs 9 € and includes the church, Old Sacristy, cloisters, treasury and crypt (as of 09/2026, complex tickets). Children under 12 enter free of charge. The Medici Chapels at 11 € and the Laurentian Library are paid separately.

On which days is the basilica closed?

San Lorenzo is open Monday through Saturday (as of 09/2026, opening hours). Closed on January 1, January 6, and August 10. On Sundays the church is open only for Masses.

Do you need to buy tickets in advance?

A ticket for the basilica complex is sold at the ticket office by the entrance; you do not have to buy it in advance. For the Medici Chapels it is more convenient to book through the official B-ticket site; the booking costs an additional €3 (as of 09/2026, Bargello Museums). It is better to choose time slots in advance.

What is the Stanza segreta di Michelangelo?

It is a small room beneath the New Sacristy where Michelangelo's charcoal drawings survive on the walls. You can only visit it on a guided tour by prior reservation; the ticket costs €32 (as of 09/2026, museum office). Groups are small, so book well in advance.

How is the Old Sacristy different from the New Sacristy?

The Old Sacristy was built by Brunelleschi, and its decoration was done by Donatello. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and belongs to the Medici Chapels, with a separate ticket (as of 09/2026, museum ticket offices). The Old Sacristy is included in the basilica complex; the New Sacristy is not.

In short: what is worth booking

If you are short on time: get the basilica complex.
If you love Michelangelo: get the Medici Chapels with the New Sacristy.
If you want everything at once: plan two separate visits and check the schedule in advance.

Allow separate time for both sites: they are two tickets and two different entrances.

Tickets and time slots on Tiqets

Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence: what to see inside and outside