Basilica di San Lorenzo

The Basilica di San Lorenzo is a church located in the Piazza di San Lorenzo in Florence. It is the oldest religious monument in Florence, dating back to 393 AD. Many artists like Donatello, whose tomb lies here, Andrea Verrocchio, Agnolo Bronzino, and Filippo Lippi have also worked on the church.

The church is a collaborative effort of all the greats—the church’s main body and the Old Sacristy were designed by Brunelleschi, while the Laurentian Library and the New Sacristy design were the ingenuity of Michelangelo. The entry starts with the Cloisters, which is an open green space. Inside the basilica is a crypt where the tombs of Cosimo di Medici and Donatello rest. The Laurentian Library was crafted beautifully in the Mannerist architectural style by Michelangelo. It contains over 3000 documents collected by the Medici family and a place to sit. The accurate measurements and precise mathematical proportions of the church’s facade showcase just how talented the Renaissance-era artists were. Some notable artworks are Donatello’s Bronze Pulpits, his last works, and the fresco depicting the Martyrdom of St. Lawrence by Bronzino.