Medici Chapel

In Florence, I was discouraged by the long lines at the entrance of the Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). So, we opted to visit the nearby Medici Chapel⛪️. Unlike the Florence Cathedral, which has an impressive exterior and simple white interior walls, the Medici Chapel has a plain exterior but an extremely intricate and luxurious interior🎊. The Medici Chapel mainly consists of two parts for visitors to explore:😀 - Princely Chapel : Looking up, you'll see a dome with frescoes that seem like light from heaven shining down, surrounded by magnificent marble decorations. - New Sacristy☄️ : This area houses Michelangelo's masterpieces, including the tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici, as well as the sculptures "Day," "Night," "Dawn," and "Dusk," and "The Madonna and Child." The arrangement is as follows: - Giuliano de' Medici (center), Day (right), and Night (left) - Lorenzo de' Medici (center), Dawn (right), and Dusk (left) These sculptures depict the prematurely deceased heirs, a man startled from a dream (Day), a sleeping woman with an owl under her foot (Night), a struggling young girl waking up (Dawn), and a middle-aged man with slack muscles and fatigue (Dusk). The exquisite muscle lines, the extreme expressions, and the strong artistic appeal make these works by Michelangelo in his middle age a must-see. In the center is "The Madonna and Child" by Michelangelo, while the figures of Saints Cosmas and Damian on either side are by Michelangelo's students Montorsoli and Montelupo. Admission for adults : €8 Visit duration : 1-2 hours The splendor of the Medici family from four centuries ago and the works of the middle-aged Renaissance masters all tell us that humanity shines brightly in its golden age✨. #Florence #OffTheBeatenPath #Italy #Michelangelo #Renaissance #Travel #Sculpture #Church #WesternArtHistory