Michelangelo's secret room is a treasure hidden under the New Sacristy of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in the centre Florence.
Visits are strictly limited to 15 minutes
Containing charcoal drawings attributed to Michelangelo, and discovered in 1975, the room has only recently been opened to the public. It can only be visited by appointment and with a maximum of four people per group. The visits, lasting a maximum of 15 minutes, take place at specific times four days a week, from Wednesday to Saturday and on Mondays. Measuring just ten metres by three, the little room was probably Michelangelo's refuge in 1530, during a period of high political tension that forced the Maestro to hide there for weeks or, perhaps, months. The room's environmental conditions have remained unchanged for centuries, contributing to the conservation of the drawings. For this reason access was for decades reserved exclusively for scholars. Only after lengthy studies and monitoring was it possible to open the room to the public, with a calibrated route to ensure the protection of the works and the safety of visitors.
On the walls sketches and drawings by Michelangelo
On the walls there are 76 charcoal sketches depicting classical and mythological figures, anatomical studies of humans and animals, bodies in torsion, as well as afterthoughts on works already completed, new ideas and even a hypothetical self-portrait of the artist. These include the depiction of a face reminiscent of the David, and the hands of the Creation of Adam, which Michelangelo would paint years later in the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo’s room is under the Sacristy in the Basilica of San Lorenzo where the Museo delle Cappelle Medicee represents one of the most significant monumental complexes of the Italian Renaissance. Consisting of two funerary chapels of the Medici family, the museum includes the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo in both architecture and sculpture, and the Chapel of the Princes, a mausoleum of polychrome marble, symbol of the Medici power. The underground crypts complete the exhibition itinerary.
Hotel Botticelli is close to art and shopping
In the centre of Florence, just a few steps from Piazza del Duomo and the major Florentine attractions, Hotel Botticelli welcomes its guests in an ancient Renaissance palace, for a 4-star stay with historical vibes. The hotel is close to the famous Uffizi Museum art gallery which contains the largest existing collection of works by Raphael and Botticelli. Dating back to the 13th century, the Basilica di Santa Croce, a few minutes from the hotel, is one of the largest Franciscan churches in Italy and houses, among others, works by Giotto. The Basilica is also the burial place of personalities such as Galilei, Foscolo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. Just around the corner from the hotel, the Mercato Centrale has food stalls with typical Tuscan products while, along the adjacent narrow streets there are numerous leather goods, handicrafts, clothing and souvenir outlets.
