The Medici Chapels, located in the historic heart of Florence, are part of the Basilica of San Lorenzo and serve as a mausoleum for the Medici family, a powerful and influential dynasty that played a significant role in the political and cultural development of Italy during the Renaissance. The connection between the Medici and food is reflective of their patronage of the arts and culinary development during their reign. They hosted lavish feasts at their palaces and were instrumental in the evolution of Italian cuisine by supporting agricultural innovations and introducing new ingredients to the region, some of which came from their trade relationships with distant lands. The presence of the Medici in Florence helped foster a food culture that is celebrated in Tuscan cuisine today.