Italian Ministry of Culture Rules on Preservation of Florence's Stadio Franchi

The Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage (MIBACT) has issued a binding opinion on the future of Florence's Stadio Artemio Franchi, designed by Pier Luigi Nervi. The ministry identified key testimonial elements—the canopy, helical staircases, Marathon Tower, and structural ring—that must be preserved, effectively ruling out total demolition. The stadium can undergo deep renovation including a full roof covering (except over the Marathon Tower and authority tribune canopy), transparent infill of the stands, reinforcement of concrete structures, and upgrades to meet UEFA standards. The opinion responds to a request from Florence's municipality and ACF Fiorentina. The Order of Architects of Florence welcomed the clarity and called for a design competition for the stadium's redevelopment, integrating the wider Campo di Marte area. Meanwhile, a related exhibition, "Pier Luigi Nervi, la Struttura e la Bellezza," opens January 25 at the former Manifattura Tabacchi in Florence, curated by the Pier Luigi Nervi Research and Knowledge Management Project and the Laboratorio Nervi Politecnico di Milano. A video art project, Cinema Nervi, coordinated by Parasite 2.0, will debut on January 19, with five Nervi buildings reinterpreted by international architects, designers, and artists.