Medici Money - Overview of Medici family history

Palazzo Medici Riccardi

Home of the Medici for 100 years from 1444, the palazzo was later acquired by the Riccardi family and now houses government offices.  It was built to an austere design by Michelozzo for Cosimo di Medici.  The Chapel of the Magi  is housed within the Palazzo and was decorated by Benozzo Gozzoli with The Procession of the Magi which depicts several members of the Medici family.

Laurenziana Library

The Laurentian Library is a remarkable monument of Mannerism architecture. It was begun by Michelangelo in 1524 at the order of Clement VII (Giulio de’ Medici) to house the collection of manuscripts of  Cosimo il Vecchio and Lorenzo il Magnifico. The richly decorated Vestibule testifies  Michelangelo’s sculptural conception of architecture and contrasts with the peaceful Reading Room.

San Lorenzo and Medici Chapels

The church of San Lorenzo is one of Florence’s most precious treasures.  Generations of  Medici put some of the greatest artists to work here-men like Brunelleschi, Donatello and Michelangelo.  The New Sacristy have been begun by Giuliano da Sangallo. The work was continued by Michelangelo in 1520-24 and 1530-33. It balances Brunelleschi’s Old Sacristy and drew inspiration from it, but was used from its inception as a funerary chapel for the Medici familìy.