New Exit and Michelangelo's Secret Room Open at Florence's Medici Chapels

The Medici Chapels in Florence have a new exit designed by Studio Zermani e Associati, completed after a complex process involving an international competition in 2017. The project, led by architect Paolo Zermani, includes a modern service block with an underground bookshop and a staircase described as a "door towards the light." The new exit, located on via Canto dei Nelli, features two volumes clad in Travertine di Rapolano. Additionally, the restored Lorenese Crypt, designed by Emilio De Fabris in 1873, is now open to the public. From November 2023, visitors will be able to access Michelangelo's secret room, which contains charcoal drawings attributed to the master. The project cost nearly €2,600,000 and also included safety upgrades, restorations, and new signage. The work was completed under the direction of Paola D'Agostino, who has led the Bargello Museums since 2015. Archaeological remains of the 12th-century city walls, uncovered during 2010 excavations, now serve as a backdrop for the bookshop.