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The Third Management Plan of the Historic Centre of Florence
The Management Plans

Laboratorio San Lorenzo: a participatory process

 

At the base of the project, The “Laboratorio San Lorenzo” is based on an analysis of the area in which the Sant’Orsola complex is located and on the need to open up spaces for dialogue and public debate on the theme of the identity and transformation of the Historic Centre of Florence, of which the San Lorenzo district is considered the fundamental nucleus, with the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, the Central Market and the former convent of Sant’Orsola, an architectural complex of fourteenth-century origin, located just a few steps from the Duomo, closed and abandoned for over 40 years.

The Metropolitan City, the owner of the property, has issued in recent years several calls for proposals for the enhancement of the complex that unfortunately have failed. In the summer of 2018, it committed 4 million euros for the restoration of the roof and facades and announced its intention to gradually reach 20 million public investments for the recovery of the complex. In October, however, the Metropolitan Council approved an act of guidance to proceed with the identification of an economic operator concerned, with whom to initiate private negotiations, even partly derogating from the intended use provided for in previous calls and in the town planning regulations.

The residents’ concern is that the difficulty in finding economic investors willing to bear the costs of the restructuring of Sant’Orsola could lead to the gradual privatization of the property and a reduction in its social functions. So DIDA accepted the invitation of the Sant’Orsola project coordination and decided to promote, together with the Order of Architects and with the collaboration of the City of Florence and the Metropolitan City, a participatory path aimed at urban regeneration of the entire district of San Lorenzo, within a strategic vision capable of integrating readings, projects and different disciplinary contributions, to bring out the centrality and the need to return to Florence one of its most emblematic places.

The six-month participatory course is divided into three main phases: listening/involvement, sharing, and return of work. On Thursday 27 June, the results of the first phase were presented in Palazzo Medici Riccardi.

On the page Open Toscana Partecipa there are all the materials of the listening/involvement phase of the participatory path (reports of the walks and public meetings, presentations, leaflets): http://open.toscana.it/web/laboratorio-san-lorenzo

 

FAQ

Why is the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site?

The Historic Centre of Florence was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982. The justification for its inscription is contained within the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, which articulates the criteria for inscription of the site, its integrity, authenticity and the management system for its protection. The Historic Centre of Florence is considered to be a unique artistic achievement embedding museums, churches, palaces and globally renowned cultural goods of inestimable value. The city has also been able to exert an important cultural, economic and architectural influence in Italy and Europe for centuries, defining itself as the birthplace of modern Humanism and Renaissance values. The stratification of these values is also enriched by the relationship between the Historic Centre and the surrounding hills, which form a perfect harmonious backstage.

What is the area of the city of Florence inscribed on the World Heritage List?

The Core Zone inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982 coincides with the Historic Centre of Florence, traditionally identified with the area included within the avenues corresponding to the ancient circle of the fourteenth-century walls. In 2021, a boundary modification of the perimeter was approved to include the complex of San Miniato al Monte and the surrounding area. The Buffer Zone of the site encompasses the eighteen Belvedere points and includes part of the territories of four municipalities: the Municipality of Florence, the Municipality of Sesto Fiorentino, the Municipality of Fiesole and the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli.  

What is the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)?

Cultural and/or natural significance that is so exceptional that it transcends national boundaries and is of common importance to present and future generations of humanity as a whole, constituting the fundamental requirement for the inscription of porperties on the World Heritage List. The properties  deemed to hold Outstanding Universal Value can be included in the World Heritage List if:

  • They satisfy one or more Selection Criteria;
  • They respect the conditions of Integrity and Authenticity;
  • They have an adequate Protection and Management System to ensure their safeguarding
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