Medici Magnificence (4.5 hours)

The history and artistic patronage of the godfathers of the renaissance.

Duration: 4.5 hours
The Medici family ruled Florence for over three hundred years. In the 1400s, this wealthy & influential banking family managed to gain control of the Florentine republic & ruled the city from the wings. In the 1500s, after being expelled from the city twice, they became the undisputed absolute rulers and controlled the new duchy of Tuscany as the Grand Dukes. The Medici always understood the power of the visual image and the political importance of artistic patronage in order to impress, persuade & intimidate adversaries both local & foreign.

On this guided tour we accompany the Medici family and their rise to power, visiting the San Marco monastery & their palace Medici-Riccardi, both of which were built in the new renaissance style of the first half of the 1400s and decorated by the leading artists of the time (option of extending the tour for 30 minutes adding in a visit on the inside of the palace to see the frescoed chapel of the family with Adoration of the Magi’ scenes by Benozzo Gozzoli).
Behind the family church of San Lorenzo, we visit the Medici Chapels, commissioned by Michelangelo at the beginning of the 1500s. The artistic patronage assumed by the family changes as we change centuries. The family, having just returned to rule the city after being exiled, no longer hold back in displaying their obvious intentions of ruling with total power. The Medici pope commissioned Michelangelo to create a lavish display for the tombs of his ancestors & the subsequent Medici Grand Dukes of Tuscany commissioned a family mausoleum (the Chapel of the Princes) entirely constructed in semi precious stones & rivalling all others in Europe.

The San Lorenzo church is the fourth site in this morning tour that will be visited if one of the above three is closed on the day the tour is booked (or is specifically requested). The renovated magnificent Renaissance church designed by Filippo Brunelleschi was from its very concept conceived to be a manifestation of the family’s place in society and power. The church was the burial place for nearly all of the Medici members, male and female, over their three hundred circa year rule of Florence admission is a veritable treasure chest of art.

CONTINUE THE HISTORY OF THE MEDICI FAMILY WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER ….. THE GRAND DUKES 

Continue with a further 4 hours the following day follow the Medici history as the family became Grand dukes and visit the two Medici ducal palaces; the Palazzo Vecchio (ex-Medieval town hall) and the Palatina gallery inside the Pitti Palace.

The tour is full of political symbolism, great art (Bronzino, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, to name a few), stories of intrigue and aristocratic grandeur.

 

 

Meeting point:

In front of the entrance to San Marco monastery next to the Church in piazza San Marco.

All tours that we organise are private. We do not organise group tours.

The cost of the 4.5 hour tour

€630 for parties of 1-5 people (excluding admission fees)
€720 for parties of 6-9 people (excluding admission fees)
€810 for parties of 10 people or more (excluding admission fees)

ADMISSION FEES not included in the hourly rate. If there are under 18 year olds  in your party please ensure that you have a digital copy of the passport to show for proof of age for the reduced ticket cost.

Admission Fees

San Marco Monastery (the families first major art & architecture patronage) €8pp
Palazzo Medici-Riccardi (the family home in the 1400s) €10pp-€18pp
Medici Chapels (architecture and sculpture by Michelangelo commissioned by the Medici pope in the early 1500s) €12pp

Possible Substitution (due to closures of any of the above)

San Lorenzo Church (where nearly all the Medici members are buried over their 300 year rule). €9pp

 

Ticket Purchases & Timed Reservations

Timed-entry ticket reservations will be made in advance for both the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi and the Medici Chapels. We will send an invoice for this cost at the time of tour confirmation. Reservation fees for timed entry are included in costs indicated above.

 

Headsets

Headsets are required for parties of 4 or more people so that everyone can hear the guide clearly.

Headset Rental Cost:

♦ Headset Rental Half Day (up to 4 hours)  for 4-12 people €30 (+ €2.50pp for parties greater than 12 people)

♦ Headset Rental Full Day (greater than 4 hours) for 4-12 people €50 (+ €5pp for parties greater than 12 people)

Payment

Prepayment is required for guided tour costs. This is done as a security measure so that large sums of cash are not carried or exchanged on the day of the tour. We use a secure payment system provided by SumUP, you do not need to have a SumUP account to use it, you can sign in as a guest and use a credit card. SumUP charges a 2.5% handling/service fee which will be added to your invoice.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations or date changes made less than 1 week prior to the tour start time require full payment. Cancellations or date changes made within 2 weeks of your tour date will require half payment. Tours proceed in inclement weather. Museum reservation fees and pre-purchased tickets are non-refundable. SumUP handling/service fees are non-refundable.