Sant'Orsola Complex in Florence to Reopen in 2026 After Decades of Abandonment

The Sant'Orsola complex in Florence, a former Benedictine monastery founded in 1307, will fully reopen in 2026 after a major urban regeneration project. The 17,000-square-meter site, owned by the Metropolitan City of Florence since 2007, was closed for four decades and partially abandoned. In 2023, the City of Florence signed a 50-year management agreement with the French group Artea. The project includes a museum, library, playroom, start-up spaces, artist ateliers, a guesthouse, shops, cafés, and public outdoor areas. The museum will be directed by Morgane Lucquet Laforgue. A temporary exhibition, "Oltre le mura di Sant'Orsola," attracted over 8,000 visitors in 2023 and was extended due to public demand. Artist residencies began in 2022, with new residents selected for summer 2024 and exhibitions planned for 2025. The permanent museum will feature archaeological remains visible under glass flooring, historical artifacts, contemporary art, and educational displays. The second church will host temporary exhibitions and cultural events. The project aims to serve local residents, young people, visitors, and the city, with social initiatives including workshops with schools and partnerships with neighborhood associations. The first exhibition featured site-specific works by Lisa Gherardini, Alberto Ruce, and Sophia Kisielewska-Dunbar, some of which will be acquired for the museum's collection.