Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence – history, photo, description, opening hours, map
To visit the birthplace of the Renaissance is the dream of every self-respecting tourist. But there is no way to get around all the beauties of Florence in a couple of days: there are too many attractions, and at every turn of some old street a new historical secret is revealed or a new architectural masterpiece is shown with its domes and spiers.
In addition, the image of the basilica is widespread in popular culture. Even the younger generation will surely recognize the church: it is shown in the famous computer game “Assassin's Creed II”. Suffice it to recall the mission where it was necessary to sneak into the courtyard of the church and kill the servant of the tyrant monk Girolamo Savonarola – this, by the way, is a real historical character who at one time came to power to replace the Medici – and the massive walls of the old building immediately appear before your eyes. Yes, yes, this is it, the Basilica of San Lorenzo!
By the way, San Lorenzo is a bit of a misnomer. If you call the basilica the way it sounds in the original language – Italian – you must add the prefix “di” at the beginning. In addition, there is another name that has taken root in Russian: the Church of St. Lawrence. How it came about is explained below.
Construction history
Back at the end of the 4th century AD (hard to imagine – 16 centuries ago!) a small but beautiful church was built on the site of the current basilica. The influential Milanese archbishop of that time, Ambrogio, ordered to erect it.
The relics of two Christian saints were kept here at once: St. Lawrence of Rome (hence the second name of the basilica; Lawrence was a senior monk of the Roman Christian community in the first half of the 3rd century and was executed during the unjust persecution of Emperor Valerian; and St. Zenobius (this future saint lived at the beginning 4th century and, according to Christian legends, had the gift of healing, he generously distributed alms, was chosen as a bishop and preached the word of God, and then was tortured with his sister on the cross and in a boiling cauldron and killed by the Roman emperor Diocletian).
It should also be noted that until the beginning of the 7th century, this particular church was the main Florentine cathedral. Then the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori took over this honor, and San Lorenzo stood in its original form until the 11th century. In the 11th century, the church was no longer as good externally and internally as at first: it needed a serious reconstruction. Money for the restructuring was collected by the whole world, which can be safely said: the Basilica of San Lorenzo of the 11th century model is a real folk church.
The original simple, uncomplicated appearance was covered by a more majestic and formidable Romanesque style, but even in this form the basilica did not last long: in the 15th century, none other than Giovanni Medici himself drew attention to it. The representative of the legendary family decided to equip the family tomb here, but for this the church had to be expanded and made richer and more luxurious. The new restoration was entrusted to Filippo Brunelleschi.
In 1421, large-scale construction began on this site. Brunelleschi devoted seven whole years to the construction of the so-called Old Sacristy (now it is Old, but then it was just Sacristy). To begin with, by the way, it is necessary to understand what sacristy is, because this word came just from the Italian language and, literally, means “sacred utensils”.
In fact, this is the same as the sacristy in the Orthodox Church: a room located, as a rule, near the altar (on the side or behind it), the robes of the clergy, the Bible, Testaments, prayer books and other books, various devices, vessels with sacred water and oil, in a word – everything that is necessary for various services and rituals. It is here that the bell rings, announcing the beginning of the Mass, it is from here that the bishop comes out to the people before the service, and it is here that he enters after it.
So, it was in the Sacristy, according to the plan of the Medici and Brunelleschi, that the first burial of representatives of the famous Florentine family was organized. The chapel was crowned with a round dome, and there was enough space in its walls for the installation of marble tombs. After the construction of the chapel, Brunelleschi had to do further restoration, but it did not work: Giovanni Medici died – and was buried in his new tomb in the basilica – the money for the construction ended, and the famous architect took up the dome of another cathedral. Work in the church of San Lorenzo ceased for many years.
Construction resumed only in 1441, already under the patronage of Cosimo Medici, the son and heir of Giovanni. This time, another famous Italian architect, Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, was appointed as the architect. Construction lasted 20 years – until 1461. Three years later, Cosimo de' Medici died and was also buried in the crypt of the Basilica. Since then, all representatives of the Medici family have been buried here.
But even on this, the history of the construction of the Church of San Lorenzo cannot be considered closed. Almost 60 years have passed, and the new representative of the Medici family, Pope Leo the Tenth, decided that the temple needed restoration and a new expansion. The work was entrusted to Michelangelo Buonarotti. It was under his leadership that the construction of the New Sacristy began in 1520 – there, according to the plan of the architect and customer, the next generations of the Medici were to be buried when the places for tombstones in the Old Sacristy ran out.
What is very curious, Michelangelo disposed of the space differently than was customary in those days: he placed the tombstones along the walls, and not in the center of the hall. The great architect was also engaged in the design of tombstones and built a small chapel in the New Sacristy. It is known that Michelangelo also had to redesign the facade of the basilica, decorating it with reliefs and statues, but his vision and the vision of the Medici did not match (Michelangelo wanted to lay out the facade with luxurious Carrara marble, and the Medici with Pietrasanta stone), and the architect refused this work.
That is why the facade of the building remained quite simple and uncomplicated: after Michelangelo, no one began to make significant changes to the appearance of the basilica. In the 15th century, bronze pulpits by Donatello appeared in the basilica. The final touch, after which the basilica took on a more or less modern external and internal composition, was the construction of the Chapel of the Princes in the 17th century. Designed by Matteo Nigetti and Pietro Benvenuti. After that, there was another restoration, but it did not significantly affect any of the main attractions of the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Today, the Basilica of San Lorenzo is a functioning Catholic church where services are held, as well as a large museum complex that includes several expositions for tourists from all over the world at once. The lines here are usually long, because the basilica has a rich historical and cultural component, but to come to Florence and not come here is a real crime.
Architecture
The facades of basilicas in those days were invariably decorated with various stones, reliefs and bas-reliefs, statues, stained-glass windows, and carvings. The Basilica of San Lorenzo looks unjustifiably strict and severely ascetic against the background of other decorated buildings of the historical center of Florence. But it is in this simplicity, perhaps, its peculiarity and its beauty. Deaf stone walls of ivory color, strict straight lines, orange domes, small arched windows, conciseness and unpretentiousness – this is the Basilica of San Lorenzo from the outside. But what is inside?
Interior
And inside – luxurious interiors from the greatest masters of the Middle Ages. The basilica is divided into three naves by columns. The columns were designed by the architect Vasalleto. On the floor and ceiling – graceful geometric patterns. Everywhere marble, gilding, expensive jewelry. Each room deserves special mention and attention of the tourist. The interior of the central hall is especially beautiful in the light of the sun, penetrating its rays through the arc windows.
What to see?
Of course, first of all, a tourist needs to visit two sacristies, the Chapel of the Princes and the famous Laurentian Library. After that, you can go to the courtyard.
Old Sacristy
The old Sacristy, as already mentioned, was built by Brunelleschi, but most of the interior decoration is from Donatello. It was he who created countless church-themed bas-reliefs, lunettes bounded by graceful arches, and colorful medallions. Among the famous works of Donatello is also the majestic and large-scale depiction of the starry sky on the inside of the dome: its master painted in 1442. Pietro, Giovanni and Cosimo de' Medici are buried in the Old Sacristy. Their luxurious tombs are decorated by another famous Italian master Verrocchio.
New Sacristy
The New Sacristy is the main focus of tourist interest in the basilica. It is here that people come from all over the world to admire the masterpieces of Michelangelo Buonarotti, because his design of the interior decoration of the sacristy is one of the best works of the master for all the time of his creativity. It is not surprising: Michelangelo spent 15 years decorating the sacristy.
Among the most significant works of the master are statues, united by a single compositional concept and symbolizing birth, flow, withering of life and death. Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici are buried in the New Sacristy. On the lid of the latter's tomb is the famous variation of the Madonna and Child.
Princes Chapel
The highest dome of the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the third largest in Florence crowns the Chapel of the Princes – the tomb of the Medici family. All other members of the legendary family are buried here. The dome was painted with colorful frescoes by Pietro Bonvenuti, and the windows are carved in such a way as to illuminate the ancient painting as effectively and effectively as possible.
The walls of the chapel are lined with expensive marble, in which the coats of arms of the famous Florentine family are mounted. In addition, there are two statues here: Cosimo Medici and Ferdinand the First Medici. It was originally planned that there would be more statues, but further decoration was never completed.
Lawrence Library
The Laurentian Library, the Laurentian Library (in the Russian style) or the Laurenzian Library (in the Italian style) – no matter how different people call it, this place definitely deserves attention. It was built in the first half of the 16th century by order of Pope Clement the Seventh Medici, and the architect was also Michelangelo Buonarotti.
In addition to the luxurious interior decoration and the famous “lava” stairs, there is a huge collection of old books and manuscripts, some of which are unique, such as the Bible of the 8th century BC. e., or the first Roman encyclopedia of history.
Courtyard
The inner courtyard on the territory of the Basilica of San Lorenzo is a kind of transition between the chapels and the Laurentian library. It is quite small in size, but it will still find something to surprise and please tourists: a luxurious orange tree grows here in the center, and neatly trimmed lines of flowering shrubs radiate from it, like rays from the sun.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The opening hours of the basilica for tourists are as follows:
Now about the prices. For 4.5 euros, you can buy a ticket that will allow you to enter the basilica itself, as well as the Old Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes. Entrance to the New Sacristy, also known as the Medici Chapel, will cost 8 euros. For a visit to the Lawrence Library, you will have to pay another 3 euros. Unfortunately, there is no general ticket for visiting all the premises and expositions at once. It should also be noted that tickets can be purchased on the website (it will be financially more profitable), in addition, there is a separate queue for visitors with electronic vouchers, so you won't have to stand at the entrance for a long time.
Also in the basilica you can buy tickets for individual or group tours, which are held at different times, on different topics and for different audiences. By the way, masses are held here on Sundays – the church is active – so if the purpose of the inspection is exclusively the main premises of the basilica, you can go there for free, among the Florentine Catholics who came to the service.
Where is it located and how to get there
The official address is: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9. The Basilica of San Lorenzo is indeed located on the square of the same name, and all this is in the historical center of Florence. You can get here by public transport or by taxi. In addition, all walking routes around the city also pass through the famous basilica.