Alinari Foundation to Establish Photography Museum in Florence and Archive Center in Montecatini

The Alinari Foundation for Photography (FAF) has announced plans to establish two new facilities to house its extensive photographic collection. A new Alinari Museum will be created within the Santa Maria Novella monumental complex in Florence, while a Photography House will open in the Excelsior Thermal Baths building in Montecatini. The foundation, established in 2020 after the Tuscany Region purchased the Alinari photographic archive for €16 million, manages over 5 million photographic items dating from 1840 to present. This includes 48,532 vintage photographs, 473,267 glass plate negatives, 1.5 million black-and-white film negatives, and 3,000 unique pre-negative photographs. The Florence museum will occupy approximately 1,800 square meters in the former Firenze Marescialli School building, featuring exhibition spaces, a library, research areas, educational facilities, and foundation offices. Architectural plans are scheduled for completion by 2026, with construction funded by the Tuscany Region and supported by Fondazione CR Firenze for cataloging and museological design. The target opening is 2029. The Montecatini location will house about two-thirds of the archives and include specialized storage, restoration laboratories, and a digitalization training center. Foundation leadership includes president Giorgio van Straten and director Claudia Baroncini, both confirmed in their roles after five years. The foundation has undertaken significant conservation work, including digitalization of 80,000 historical plates through PNRR funding, and has organized exhibitions connecting historical and contemporary photography. Regional officials including Florence cultural assessor Giovanni Bettarini and Tuscany governor Eugenio Giani have expressed support, noting the project positions Tuscany as a leader in cultural heritage management. The region also plans to create a Tuscan Photography Network coordinated by the Alinari Foundation.