A contemporary memorial will be placed in the cloister of the Basilica of Santa Croce as a mark of appreciation and in commemoration of the 172 doctors, 40 nurses and other healthcare workers who lost their lives during the pandemic. Opera di Santa Croce, along with the Franciscan Order, the City of Florence, Fondo Edifici di Culto (FEC) and the professional associations of doctors and nurses (FNOMCeO and FNOPI) have come together to applaud the efforts of all those who contributed to fighting the virus and in memory of them.
Park of Remembrance in the Cloister of Santa Croce
Healthcare workers will have a special space alongside the most esteemed names in Italy. A specially created work, yet to be commissioned, will be placed in the first cloister, overlooked by the Pazzi Chapel, to remember those who lost their lives while doing the utmost in their profession. The Park of Remembrance, where ten young heroes of WWI are remembered, is close to monuments to Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante and many more of the most celebrated names in Italy.
Restored monument to Florence Nightingale
The announcement was made on July 15 following a minute of silence. The restoration of the monument to Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing, was also unveiled. Those present were Irene Sanesi and Stefano Filipponi, president and secretary-general of Opera di Santa Croce, Father Paolo Bocci of the basilica, Anna Chiti Batelli representing the prefect of Florence and the Fondo Patrimonio di Culto, Tommaso Sacchi, councillor for culture of the City of Florence, Barbara Mangiacavalli, president of FNOPI, and Teresita Mazzei, president of the order of doctors of Florence representing FNOMCeO.
“We are grateful and proud of this tribute, which will be placed here in Santa Croce, a place of national collective memory, just as we are proud of our doctors, women and men who have fulfilled their duty with commitment and self-sacrifice, even with extreme sacrifice. A silent massacre, which should not be forgotten and which should instead be a warning so that it will never repeat itself,” highlighted Teresita Mazzei.
