The historical headquarters of Cassa di Risparmio

The palace housing Cassa di Risparmio in via Bufalini has a long history.

It was built at the end of the 16th century not far from Palazzo Pucci. It experienced its golden age at the end of the 20th century, when Giuseppe Pucci, art lover and avid collector (especially of ancient coins and books) made it his residence. When he died, the building was inherited by his two sisters and later, in 1865, it was sold to Cosimo Ridolfi, who turned it into the headquarters of Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, of which he was one of the founding members.

The initial nucleus of the bank was subsequently and progressively extended up to Piazza Santa Maria Nuova, via de’ Servi and through via del Castellaccio, to the rear piazza Brunelleschi. In 1886 the building underwent a restoration, curated by architect Ulisse Faldi, who transformed the interiors while leaving the exterior untouched.

All decorative interventions made in 1920s and in 1930s, even the ones made by Chini family, were lost, except for the elegant glass doors at the main entrance and of a terracotta floor on the first floor.

In 1931, new areas adjacent to the building became subject to an urban plan, with the creation of the current piazza Brunelleschi, the isolation of Rotonda degli Angeli and the construction of the Casa del Mutilato, by architect Rodolfo Sabatini. 

A further  reorganization of the spaces of Cassa di Risparmio was commissioned to Giovanni Michelucci in 1953. On March 25 1954, the feast of the Annunciation, the first stone of the new building was laid. The building included a vast hall for the public, the exchange office, offices, a car park and the vault. 

In his project, Giovanni Michelucci chose to create a dynamic relationship between the interiors and the exterior:  the view on the internal garden through the great windows, the use of exposed reinforced concrete, the lightness of glass, the architectonic profiles made in wood and brass, the white plastered walls, the elegant white marble floors with strips of red Verona marble.

The palace was inaugurated on September 29 1957. Today, it serves a dual function: it's the headquarters of Banca Intesa San Paolo and exhibition space for art collections.