Tobacco factory to change face of Florence

Ambitious plans have been revealed for the former tobacco factory situated in the northwest of the city.

Manifattura Tabacchi, near piazza Puccini, has received a 200 million euro investment that is converting the 100,000 square meter complex into what is being referred to as “a centre outside the city centre”.

Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella, Salvatore Sardo, the CEO of Cdp Immobiliare, a leading Italian property developer, and Giovanni Manfredi, Italian managing director of Aermont Capital LLP, a property investment company headquartered in London, presented the project at the Palazzo Vecchio on April 10.

The innovative new space will consist in a piazza with a transparent roof for all-weather use, a food hall dotted with coffee shops and eateries, events and exhibition spaces, and shops selling unique local products. Coworking spaces are planned for the upper floors. A new residential neighbourhood will take shape around the central square, providing a hotel, apartments and homes. Entertainment is also in the pipeline, including a theatre and a pub serving craft beers. Job creation has been taken into consideration, placing importance on contemporary crafts, offering ateliers and workshops for artists with a “Makers’ Street“.

International fashion school Polimoda is one of the first institutes to sign a lease contract for its tailoring workshops, photography laboratories, design classrooms and an 800-seater auditorium in the complex’s building bearing the iconic clock face, set to open in autumn 2019.

The new Manifattura Tabacchi will open to the public on June 23, giving locals the chance to visit the complex and become involved with the project as it develops.

For more information, see www.manifatturatabacchi.com.