You’re looking for where can i watch Medici Masters of Florence because, let’s be honest, historical dramas hitting that sweet spot between "actually educational" and "insanely dramatic" are rare. Usually, you get one or the other. You either get a dry documentary that feels like high school history class or a soap opera where everyone wears polyester and speaks in 21st-century slang. Medici is different. It’s got Richard Madden. It’s got Dustin Hoffman. It’s got those sweeping shots of Tuscany that make you want to quit your job and move to a villa. But finding it? That’s becoming a bit of a headache lately because streaming rights are a mess.
Everything changed in the last year or so.
If you’re in the United States, your first instinct is probably Netflix. For a long time, that was the correct instinct. Netflix held the keys to the kingdom for Medici: Masters of Florence (Season 1), Medici: The Magnificent (Season 2), and the final chapter (Season 3). But streaming deals expire. Licenses shift. One day you’re halfway through Cosimo de' Medici’s rise to power, and the next, the "Continue Watching" bar has vanished into the digital void.
The Current State of Streaming for Medici
Right now, the availability of Medici is basically a geography test. If you are sitting in the US, Netflix is still your primary home for all three seasons, but that's not a permanent guarantee. We've seen Big Tech shuffling their libraries to save on licensing costs. In other regions, like the UK or parts of Europe, it’s a completely different story. Sometimes it’s on Sky; sometimes it’s on Amazon Prime Video; occasionally, it just sits on RaiPlay if you happen to be in Italy and don’t mind the original broadcast format.
The show was an international co-production between Italy's Rai Fiction, Lux Vide, and various international partners. That’s why the rights are so fragmented.
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If you check Netflix and it’s gone, don’t panic. The next logical stop is Amazon Prime Video. However, there’s a catch with Prime. Often, the show isn’t included in the "free with Prime" tier. You might find it available for digital purchase or through a specific "channel" subscription like PBS Masterpiece or Acorn TV, depending on who has the rights that month. Buying the seasons digitally on Apple TV or Amazon is honestly the only way to ensure some executive doesn't pull the rug out from under your binge-watch session next Tuesday.
Why This Show Still Hits Different in 2026
It’s been a minute since the first season dropped in 2016, but the show has legs. Why? Because it’s not just about the money. It’s about the soul of the Renaissance. You watch Cosimo (Madden) struggle with the guilt of being a banker—which, back then, was basically a one-way ticket to hell according to the Church—while trying to fund the completion of the Duomo in Florence.
The architecture is a character.
Seeing the Brunelleschi dome come to life isn't just a plot point; it's the centerpiece of the first season's tension. Most shows use CGI that looks like a video game from 2004. Medici actually filmed in Florence and surrounding Tuscan towns like Montepulciano and Pienza. When you see those stone streets, they’re real. The grit is real.
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Breaking Down the Seasons (Because It Gets Confusing)
People often get tripped up because the show rebrands itself after the first eight episodes.
Season 1: Masters of Florence. This focuses on Cosimo de' Medici. It’s a mystery-thriller masquerading as a period piece. Who killed Giovanni de' Medici (Dustin Hoffman)? That’s the hook. It’s moody, dark, and very focused on the transition from a medieval mindset to a Renaissance one.
Season 2 & 3: The Magnificent. There’s a massive time jump. We move to Lorenzo de' Medici, Cosimo's grandson. This is the era of Botticelli and Michelangelo. It’s brighter, more violent, and features Daniel Sharman taking over the lead. If you’re looking for where can i watch Medici Masters of Florence, make sure the platform you choose actually has all three parts, or you’ll be left hanging right when the Pazzi Conspiracy starts getting good.
The Physical Media Lifeline
Digital streaming is ephemeral. It’s a ghost. If you really love the show, look for the Blu-ray or DVD sets. I know, nobody uses discs anymore. But seriously, the 4K transfers of this show are stunning. The costume design—the heavy velvets, the intricate embroidery—gets totally crushed by Netflix’s compression algorithms. If you want to see the texture of the frescoes and the depth of the Tuscan shadows, physical is the way to go. Plus, you never have to worry about "Content Unavailable" messages.
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Troubleshooting Your Search
If you’ve searched your local streamers and come up empty, there are a few "hidden" spots to check.
- Vudu (Fandango at Home): They often have the full series for sale as a bundle.
- Google Play / YouTube TV: Sometimes the seasons are hidden in the "Buy" section of YouTube rather than the subscription side.
- Local Libraries: Use the Hoopla or Kanopy apps. Many public libraries have digital rights to international dramas that aren't on the major platforms. It’s free. You just need a library card.
The struggle is real because Medici wasn't a "prestige" HBO hit that stays in one place forever. It’s a nomad. It moves where the money is.
What to Do Next
If you’re ready to dive in, start by checking your Netflix region. If it’s there, download the episodes for offline viewing immediately. If it's not, head to a site like JustWatch or Reelgood. These sites are updated daily and can tell you exactly which platform currently holds the license in your specific zip code.
Once you find it, don't skip the intro. The theme song "Renaissance" by Paolo Buonvino and Skin is an absolute banger that sets the mood perfectly. Start with Season 1, Episode 1, "Original Sin," and pay close attention to the flashbacks. The show loves to jump around in time to explain how the Medici family became the "Godfathers of the Renaissance."
Check your subscription status on Amazon or Netflix first. If it's missing from both, your best bet is a digital purchase on the Apple TV app to keep the series permanently in your library. Don't wait—streaming rights for international co-productions like this change faster than the Florentine government in the 1400s.