Day Tour: The Medici Family in Florence, Italy

Discover how the Medici family’s famously wide-reaching influence on the arts, politics, economics and social structure of the Tuscan capital in the Renaissance still lingers today. From the grand family palaces they had built to the masterpieces of painting and sculpture that they funded, the legacy of their power and wealth remains unparalleled.

This walk follows the rise of the family at the end of the Middle Ages, their heyday during the Renaissance, and their rule as the Dukes of Tuscany in the 17th century. On the tour, we will take in three major sites that are deeply linked into the history of the family: the cloister of San Marco; Palazzo Medici, their family home during the 15th century; and the Medici Chapels, which Michelangelo designed for them.

As we talk about the power and prestige of the family, you will learn about the many achievements of the Medici and of Florence during the Renaissance, which was a watershed in Western culture.