Commissioned by the Medici family in 1459, the Chapel of the Magi is a 15th-century masterpiece frescoed by the visionary Benozzo Gozzoli. The painter, a pupil of Beato Angelico, portrays the Three Kings as they journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, encircled by angels painted in the celebrated style of his teacher. Faithful to his patron, Gozzoli used the biblical procession to represent the Medici family in all of its glory, including their many friends and allies. The fresco is a living photograph of Medici history, a scene that immortalizes the faces of illustrious men such as Cosimo the Elder, Galeazzo Sforza, Pandolfo Malatesta, Lorenzo the Magnificent and Pope Pius II, not to mention Benozzo Gozzoli himself. 

Despite the presence of emblematic religious symbols, the fresco boasts an unusual backdrop for the parading men: the Tuscan countryside. Behind the procession, you’ll find exotic animals, real and imaginary, blanketed by a spectacular blue and gold coffered ceiling. The remarkable fresco captures the air of fairytales, the golden, sparkling details making it a magnificent example of the International Gothic style. 

Price: € 7 / € 4

(Includes access to entire Medici Riccardi Palace)