Florence - Basilica di San Lorenzo

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families.

In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance.

In 1419 Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of San Lorenzo. Filippo Brunelleschi was commissioned to design it. When Brunelleschi died in 1446 only the sacristy and the crossing were completed. His scholars continued, but changed the design. As San Lorenzo was the parish church of the Medici family (and their burial place) Pope Leo X (born "Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici") commissioned Michelangelo to design a façade in 1518.

Michelangelo made a wooden model, that still exists, but this facade, as you can see here, was never added to the church.