Tours / Medici family Florence private guided tour

This private walking tour has been designed to give you a deep insight of the Medici family and of their times. If you are history lovers, this is the perfect tour for you! We will follow in the footsteps of some of the Medicis who made the history of Florence in a guided tour that will cover the places that were so dear to this family. No other European dynasty has done so much to encourage the artistical flowering that Florence saw between the 15th and the 18th century. The House of the Medici ruled Florence and later Tuscany, for three centuries. Two Medicis became queens of France and three became Popes of the Church.

They also discovered Michelangelo when he was only a talented 12 year old child and protected artists, scientists and musicians.

Despite all that, did you know that the Medicis were not aristocrats at the beginning? And that Lorenzo the Magnificent was almost murdered by a family with a meaningful name, the Pazzi’s (meaning in English ‘Crazy’)? And that a woman of the Medici House was considered as the inventor of parfums? This tour combines historical facts with interesting anecdotes of the characters and personalities of the most remarkable Medicis. You will hear stories of poison and murder, plots and betrayal as well as love stories and forward-thinking women.

Choosing our Medici Tour, you will learn about how a family of merchants became so powerful and wealthy to rule Florence and to influence the politics of other states.

Starting from the Medici-Riccardi Palace, your guide will introduce you to Cosimo the Elder and his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent respectively, the founder of the Medicis’ fortune and the great patron of Michelangelo. Started in 1444, this palace was their first residence and the place where artists such as Michelangelo, Donatello and Botticelli met. This is where everything started, but don’t let its austere façade deceive you!

The Medicis were clever people and didn’t like showing off, but as soon as you enter their residence, be ready to be amazed by the gorgeous Magi Chapel, whose walls are completely covered with frescoes portraying the Journey of the Magi. This incredible masterpiece was painted by Benozzo Gozzoli in the 15th century and still shows bright colors that have remained intact despite the centuries. The artist depicted the three wise men’s procession crowded with people among which you will recognize, with the help of your guide, many portraits of the Medicis.

Afterwards, we will continue our walking tour to Palazzo Vecchio, where the Medicis moved when they became Grand Dukes.

Next to this palace, you will see the statue of the first prince of Florence and Tuscany, Cosimo I, who completely renovated Palazzo Vecchio turning it into a princely residence. Our tour will include the amazingly decorated rooms where Cosimo I lived with his family and which are now the City Hall of Florence.

No Medici tour can be completed without a visit to the Medici Chapels, the place where most Medicis were buried. Our guided tour goes to the New Sacristy, which was designed by Michelangelo for the tombs of four members of the family, including the one of Lorenzo the Magnificent who had ‘discovered’ Michelangelo when he was only a child. The statues decorating the Medicis’ tombs depict allegorical figures alluding to the inevitable time flowing and are considered among the most successful masterpieces by Michelangelo.

This private guided tour on the Medici family can be modelled to your interests and available time.

You can choose a full day tour including the Medici-Riccardi Palace, Palazzo Vecchio and the Medici Chapels or you can select, with the help of your guide, the best places to be seen in your half day Medici tour. I’m sure at the end of your visit, you will have fallen deeper in love with the Medici Family!