Hidden behind the stalls of the open air market outside its doors, the Church of San Lorenzo is visually unassuming.  The facade is crumbly-looking brown brick.  It is, however, the most ancient religious building in Florence having been originally consecrated in 393.  It was the city's cathedral before the Duomo was built. 

Virtually nothing of the original construction has survived.  In 1418 the Medici Family decided to adopt it as "their" church.  They assigned the task of renovating the building to Brunelleschi, who finished most of it in 1421.  Some of his drawings for San Lorenzo are considered to be the first "perspective" drawings of the Renaissance.  Indeed, the windows under the largest dome slant upwards, a trick in perspective designed to make the tower appear taller.  Following Brunelleschi's death, the church was finished by Antonio Manetti.  The facade remained the naked stone we see today, despite plans drawn up by Michelangelo.  (A wooden model of his plans is on exhibit in his home "Casa Buonarroti"). 

Although the exterior was never finished, the interior benefited greatly from the wealth of the Medici's.  The elaborate Medici Chapel in the Old Sacristy, holds the tombs of many of the Medici family.  But off this chapel is the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo.  It was his first architectural work and this is what draws the tourists to San Lorenzo.  They come to see the tombs of Lorenzo de Medici and his brother Guillano which contain Michelangelo's famous sculptures of  "Dawn", "Dusk", "Night", and "Day". 

In addition to the New Sacristy, Michelangelo also built the Laurentian Library on the second floor of San Lorenzo.  This is Italy's most important library and it houses the many literary works the Medicis collected over the years.