On November 12, restoration work began on the Sant’Orsola complex.
Inside Sant’Orsola
The Metropolitan City of Florence has allocated 4.5 million euro to salvage the former monastery that has stood derelict in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood for the last forty years.
The first stage of the restoration will insulate, waterproof and rebuild the roof, while the second part will focus on renewing the façade, restoring the iron grates and adding new doors as well as re-plastering and reconstructing the cornices. The complex is expected to be usable by the end of 2019.
At a press presentation, Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella commented, “The final plans are still being defined and we’ll launch the works tender invitation by the end of the year. The tender for private proposals for the use of Sant’Orsola will expire on November 30 … Regardless, we’ll go ahead restoring this complex, which covers a sizeable part of Florence’s historic centre … Sant’Orsola is not a dream anymore. Now it’s a concrete project.” Nardella also emphasized that Sant’Orsola will not operate as a money-making exercise, but be in the public interest out of respect for the artistic and historical value of the former monastery.
The 2017 project put forth by Property Finance e Partners SPA for an Andrea Bocelli music school, among other activities, did not garner the approval of the Superintendency for Architectural Heritage and Landscape.
