MAGNIFICO - The Rise of Lorenzo de' Medici

The story is inspired by a true historical event: the Pazzi Conspiracy. In 1478, during High Mass in Florence’s cathedral, a plot orchestrated by the Pazzi family, long-standing rivals of the Medici, sought to shatter the power of the dynasty that, though holding no official title, effectively ruled the city. The attack was brutal and carried out in public. Giuliano de’ Medici, Lorenzo’s brother, was killed. Lorenzo himself, gravely wounded, managed to escape by taking refuge in the sacristy. From that moment on, Florence was forever changed. The retaliation was swift and merciless. The conspirators were captured and executed, and Lorenzo consolidated his power decisively, transforming from a young heir into an undisputed statesman. It marked the beginning of his rise as Lorenzo the Magnificent, and the dawn of a new political era for Florence.