Florentine hotel chain Starhotels has donated in excess of one million euro to restore piazzale Michelangelo to its former glory.
The decision comes from the hospitality firm to celebrate its 35th year of business and as part of the Art Bonus project, whereby Italian companies receive a tax break of 65 percent for donations to cultural activities.
At the press conference held at the Palazzo Vecchio, the president and managing director of Starhotels Elisabetta Fabri commented, “Our company was founded in Florence in 1980 and this is where we developed into 12 cities in Italy and later in New York, Paris and London. Our roots are still here and we believe that our Florentine roots have much to do with our ability to export high-level hospitality.”
The exact amount donated by Starhotels to the City of Florence was 1,037,000 euro, a mega investment made possible due to the company’s excellent 2015 proceeds.
Florence mayor Dario Nardella, presiding at the press conference, made clear the city’s intentions to restore the much-loved piazza: “2016 will be the year of rebirth of this prestigious area, which has suffered a loss of identity in recent years.” The mayor also announced that the piazza would be pedestrianized in late January 2016.
Nardella continued, “On February 14, we will invite all Florence lovers to kiss in the most romantic and beautiful piazza in the world as part of a Guinness World Record attempt.”
In early 2016, the funds from Starhotels will be invested in restoring the balustrades of Loggia del Poggi (370,000 euro), while city monies will be used to resurface the piazzale.
