Michelangelo’s “Secret Room”

A hidden chamber discovered in 1975 beneath the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, and adorned with what are believed to be Michelangelo sketches, is open to the public for the first time


New Sacristy
Basilica di San Lorenzo

Piazza di San Lorenzo

Florence

New Sacristy
(north wall)


“Stanza Segreta” (Secret Room): Resides behind unassuming windows (above)

Trapdoor: Rediscovered under wardrobe in 1975

Special LED lighting rails installed

1m 3ft
1 2 3


Wall 1 features sketch that resembles statue of Laocoön and His Sons – ancient artwork that inspired Michelangelo

Detail from Wall 2

Drawings executed in charcoal and sanguine (red chalk)

Wall 3 has several drawings of legs, including likely study for statue of Giuliano de’ Medici, on tomb in room above hidden chamber

Open from Nov 15, 2023 to Mar 31, 2024


Works believed to have been carried out in 1530, when Prior of San Lorenzo hid Michelangelo from wrath of Pope Clement VII, who was infuriated by his supervision of city fortifications during shortlived republican uprising that saw Medicis thrown out of Florence


Sources: The Florentine, National Geographic, New York Times, PlanetWare, Amusing Planet, AP Pictures: Apple Maps, Google Street View, Getty Images, Creative Commons 
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