A new cultural and social hub for young people has opened in Florence’s Oltrarno, turning a long-unused municipal property into a lively public space dedicated to culture, participation and community life.
Known as Santo Spirito Living Room, the project was inaugurated on Tuesday evening and is aimed primarily at residents under 35. Promoted by the City of Florence, the initiative seeks to create a permanent space for youth participation in the historic city centre.
The venue will host a range of activities, including theatrical readings, small-scale concerts, neighbourhood performance tours, silent discos, shared reading sessions and other cultural events. Organizers say the goal is to strengthen ties between young people and the wider Oltrarno community.
The centre will be managed by Associazione Culturale I Nuovi ETS, a group largely made up of performing arts professionals under 35.
At weekends, the space will stay open until 1am, operating as an urban living room where visitors can meet, relax and socialize in an inclusive environment. A dedicated chill-out zone has also been created to provide a safe and welcoming space for conversation and downtime, without pressure to drink alcohol.
The project is supported by Florence’s departments for youth policies and public property, together with Quartiere 1, and funded by Italy’s national municipal association ANCI and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Speaking at the inauguration, Florence Mayor Sara Funaro described the centre as a place where young people can develop meaningful projects and build community connections. “We believe there are positive and constructive ways to have fun, socialize, create culture and share urban spaces together,” Funaro said. “This place will serve exactly that purpose.”
