Stepping into history: Unveiling Michelangelo's 1530 secret hideout now open for tourists
On November 15, 2023, a unique experiment was launched at the Museum of the Medici Chapel. Visitors accessed a room, approximately 33 feet long and about 10 feet wide, that served as Michelangelo's hiding place in 1530.
Tourists have shown great appreciation of this site
Initially, the museum in Florence indicated that the artist's hideout would only be available to visitors for a brief period. However, they now have good news that will undoubtedly delight tourists. The hideout is now planned to be open until the end of June this year.
The room can only accommodate four visitors at a time, and each visit is limited to fifteen minutes. It is also necessary to book in advance. The hideout is fully booked until the end of March, but reservations for April, May, and June are open.
The discovery of Michelangelo's Hideout
The hideout was serendipitously found beneath the floor of the Medici Chapel in San Lorenzo church in Florence in 1975. Until 1955, the room was a storage space for wood coal and became a warehouse for old furniture. The treasures in this forgotten room remained unknown for a long time, as the walls concealed numerous sketches Michelangelo drew under a layer of plaster.
As per Michelangelo's biographers, the artist hid in this room with a tiny window for two months, offering only a limited view of the street. In this confined space, he created the sketches that tourists can now admire. Visitors are most struck by the sheer volume of illustrations on the walls. The drawings continue to be under study.
Later, Michelangelo was pardoned, as the Medici family wanted him to complete their tomb and the Sistine Chapel. He then departed for Rome.
Source: PAP/X
