Gian Gastone’s Tomb

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The tomb of Gian Gastone is right behind the altar in the Medici Chapels. Gian Gastone was the last Gran Duke of the ‘de Medici family. What is interesting about the tomb is that the burial niche with the corpse of the Gran Duke was not inside of it. It was not until a marble slab on the floor was moved that the real tomb was found. Under the slab, a staircase leads to the underground burial chamber where Gian Gastone’s wooden coffin was found. Inside the coffin, there was another coffin made of lead with a big Christian cross on it. Gastone’s corpse was found still intact: he was still wearing his crown and his corpse was dressed in the great cloak of Gran Master of the Order of Saint Stephen. Next to his body, there were two golden medallions and a silver crucifix.
Inside the same chamber, there were other small wooden coffins that humidity and mud – after the 1966 flood of the Arno – had ruined. Those coffins belonged to all the ‘de Medici children who died when they were from a few months up to five years old.

Eto soobshcheniye takzhe dostupna v: Английский Итальянский Французский Испанский Немецкий Португальский, Португалия