The political background of Florence
Why is there a Michelangelo’s Secret Room at Medici Chapels? The great artist, afraid of the Medici’s punishment, hid here for 3 months. What was the political situation of Florence back in the 1500’s? After the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent in 1492, Florence saw a period of governmental instability. The supporters of the Republic, enemies of the Medici family, took the power and ruled over the city until 1512. In that year, the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent became Pope Leo X (his real name was Giovanni de’ Medici). This is when Florence was namely guided by the pope’s brother Giuliano de’ Medici (later Duke of Nemours). After his death in 1516 it was the turn of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the pope’s nephew. He was known as the Duke of Urbino and he had a very short life, dying in in 1519. In the mean time, after Leo’s death in 1521, his cousin Giulio de’ Medici was elected as the new Pope with the name of Clemente VII in 1523.
The Sack of Rome
The world was then shaken by the infamous and ignominious Sack of Rome, conducted in 1527 by emperor Charles V Habsburg. He didn’t want to recognize the superiority of the papal power on his imperial power, so he brutally invaded Rome with an army of over 20.000 soldiers. Esteems say that around 20.000 citizens were murdered, 10.000 escaped and 30.000 died due to the plague that arrived with the army. Pope Clemente VII was captured and had to pay an exaggerated ransom of 400.000 ducats to be released. The emperor was crowned in 1530 by the Medici pope. As a sign of reconciliation, Charles V agreed that Florence must be given back, and forever, to the Medici family. The city was under siege for over one year between 1529 and 1530 and capitulated in the end. It was put under the control of Duke Alexander de’ Medici, illegitimate son of Pope Clemente VII, rumors said.
Michelangelo’s Secret Room at Medici Chapels
In 1530, a 55 years old Michelangelo was in trouble. He had been close to the Medici family for all his life, being welcomed in their house, and receiving by them an education and economic support. Moreover, in 1520 he was commissioned by Pope Leo X de’ Medici, his old friend, to make the funeral chapel for his brother and nephew, the famous Medici Chapels in Florence. The work went on until 1534, when Michelangelo moved definitely to Rome. He was devoted to the Republican cause though, being hostile to the idea that the powerful Medici dynasty could transform the free state of Florence into a despotic monarchy. During the siege of Florence of 1529, when the papal troops of Clemente VII and the imperial army of Charles V, Michelangelo interrupted the work of the Medici chapels and he dedicated his effort to fortify the city in order to protect it.
Michelangelo, the “betrayer”
Michelangelo was openly now anti-Medici. But when Florence fell, Baccio Valori, the governor of the newly monarchic state, decided he wanted the head of Michelangelo, the “betrayer”. So, in 1530, Michelangelo hid in a secret room under the chapel he had been building for the Medici in the last years. Ironically, he was hiding from the Medici just in their chapel! As a result, during a 3 months self-detention Michelangelo produced over 100 coal drawings on the walls. They are sketches for the statues of the Medici chapels, for the Sistine chapel and for other statues and paintings that he was dreaming of, in a relentless creational mental process. Michelangelo’s Secret Room at Medici Chapels was found only in 1975 looking for a security exit to be created in the museum. Regrettably, the room had been damaged by 1966 flood and nobody run to restore it simply because nobody knew about its existence.
100 drawings on the walls of Michelangelo’s Secret Room at Medici Chapels
I had the privilege of spending some time in this room and it was just breathtaking and so moving knowing that I was seeing the creations of such a genius like “our” Michelangelo. I could almost feel his presence. I’m pretty sure that his spirit is still there. If you want to enjoy the same experience, please contact me to arrange it. But, remember, you must book way in advance if you want to make sure to have access! I warmly suggest you to book my Medici Family Tour in Florence and add the amazing exclusive visit of Michelangelo’s Secret Room at Medici Chapels. And please, before you buy the Secret Room’s tickets, let me know! Unfortunately the web is filled with scalpers without scruples. The real cost is 36 € per person and it includes the admission to Medici Chapels. You can buy it on the official website here.
Michelangelo’s Secret Room at Medici Chapels: some access rule
The maximum duration of stay inside the room is 15 minutes, accompanied by museum staff. Since access to the room requires descending a narrow and steep staircase, the room is not accessible to people with disabilities and, for safety reasons, is also restricted for children under 10 years of age. Also, each slot allows 4 persons at the time, 100 persons per week. The Opificio delle Pietre Dure (the institution in charge of the monuments’ tutelage) has being monitoring the room’s stability since then. This will protect the drawings and maintain suitable conditions for preservation, essential for safeguarding the valuable artifacts. The limited number of visitors per time slot is due to the need to alternate periods of exposure to LED light with periods of darkness. In other words, the drawings inside Michelangelo’s Secret Room at Medici Chapels drawings need to rest between a visit and another one.
