Basilica of San Lawrenz

The Basilica of San Lorenzo is considered one of the most ancient sights of Italy. It is also called the Church of St. Lawrence. The ancient temple with an unremarkable facade, located in the central square of Florence, was the family church of the Medici dynasty. There are tombs of almost all representatives of the famous family, which considered St. Lawrence of Rome to be its patron saint.

Many Florentine historians, artists and other famous figures are also buried in the church. Despite the fact that the austere and gloomy building is not very impressive externally, its magnificent interior and rich history will always attract the attention of archaeologists, historians and tourists. It is one of the most visited places in the world.

Architecture and interior of the Basilica of San Lorenzo

The current look of the basilica in the early Renaissance style was created in the 15th century by the outstanding architect Filippo Brunelleschi based on the 4th century temple. The plan of the church with three naves is formed by square spans and rectangular chapels. The austere structure with Corinthian columns, domes, round windows of the second tier and sailing arches is shaped like a Latin cross. The facade has never been completed, it looks simple, concise and devoid of the usual decorations.

The interior space impresses with an elegant, airy interior full of wealth and grace. Famous craftsmen worked on the basilica and decorated it with many works of art. One of the main masterpieces of the Basilica of San Lorenzo is the New Sacristy, made by the famous Michelangelo. In this chapel there are allegorical statues "Morning", "Evening", "Day", "Night", with which the sculptor decorated the sarcophagi of members of the Medici family. Michelangelo built the Laurentian Library, famous for its rare manuscripts, and a balcony for relics in the Old Sacristy.

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Another brilliant sculptor, Donatello, decorated the basilica with two pulpits with bronze reliefs, known as the "Passion Pulpits." He also had a hand in the bas-reliefs in the Old Brunelleschi Sacristy, elegant figured doors, bronze and stucco cherubs. Donatello created a marble sarcophagus by Martelli and an image of the starry sky of Florence.

The Princes Chapel is one of the most beautiful places in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, designed by Mateo Nighetti. The magnificent hall, which serves as the tomb of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, is decorated with marble with semiprecious stones and painted by Pietro Benvenuti. The chapel was not finished, of the eight niches, only two have statues by Pietro Tacca.

The huge niches of the basilica are filled with paintings by great painters: "Annunciation of Martelli" by Filippo Lippi, "St. Matthew" by Pietro Marchesini, "Crucifixion on the Cross" by Francesco Conti, "Betrothal of the Virgin" by Rosso Fiorentino and many other masterpieces. A large fresco by Bronzino depicts scenes from the life of St. Lawrence himself.

The history of the creation and reconstruction of the Basilica of San Lorenzo

The church in honor of Saints Lawrence and Zinovy was founded, according to legend, by St. Ambrose in 393. In the 11th century, the building was rebuilt into a rectangular Romanesque-style basilica. In the 15th century, under the direction of Giovanni de' Medici, architect Brunelleschi began the reconstruction. He began in 1421 with the construction of the Old Sacristy for the repose of the representatives of the Medici family, then moved on to the construction of the main building, but did not finish the work due to the death of Giovanni.

After 20 years, construction resumed, and Cosimo the Elder commissioned Michelozzo di Bartolomeo. In 1518, Leo de' Medici appointed Michelangelo to erect a New Sacristy and chapel. The architect also created a facade project that was not implemented. Under the leadership of Pope Clement VII, in 1524, the Basilica of San Lorenzo was supplemented by the Library of St. Lawrence, also created by Michelangelo.