This is one of the best places to learn more about the Medici family, since it has long acted as a tomb for esteemed family members. In fact, from the moment you enter, you are surrounded by the tombstones of Medici family members located in the crypt, and the exhibition of family relics. But the most exciting part lies ahead (or well, on top) - as you get upstairs, you’ll find yourselves in the so-called Cappella dei Principi, an impressive octagonal room with huge sarcophaguses exposed around the chapel. In reality, all these sarcophaguses are empty, with the actual remains of late Medici princes (Cosimo I, Francesco I, and Cosimo II), sealed behind the walls in the crypt.

Curious fact: The Medici family has always been not only powerful but also incredibly ambitious. As we continue our walk around Florence, you will encounter their tendency to grand gestures on numerous occasions, but the story linked to the Medici Chapels is my personal favourite and describes this family’s ambition best. During their numerous trips and pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Medici have tried, and repetitively so, to by the Holy Sepulchre - right, that one. Hold on, I couldn’t believe it either, but the more you’ll get acquainted with the Medici’s legacy, the more it’ll seem like something you’d expect from this family. The idea was to buy it and bring to Florence, to position in the family’s chapel (hence its enormous size, probably?). They did not succeed (and this, somehow, comes as a bigger surprise to me than the fact they came with the idea), but the chapel is here and you can admire its beauty.

And that’s not all - after the main chapel, go straight to the Sagrestia Nuova (Michelangelo’s project and one of his greatest architectural works), where you’ll find the actual tombs of some of the most important Medici. Among them - Lorenzo the Magnificent and his brother Giuliano, tragically killed during what is now known as The Pazzi Conspiracy (you can learn more about it in the third itinerary).