The Sant'Orsola (Saint Ursula) Complex

The Sant'Orsola Complex, located in the San Lorenzo district, is undergoing a phase of recovery and re-functionalisation on the basis of an agreement that regulates, for the next 50 years, the use of the spaces of the former convent in the heart of Florence's historic centre.

Since it occupies an entire block, the project envisaged that the three courtyards (the Cortile dell'Orologio, the Cortile della Spezieria and the Cortile del Tabacco) as well as the access points from the four streets, which are Via Guelfa, Via di Sant'Orsola, Via Taddea and Via Guelfa, would be public spaces. 

The street gives access to the ground floor, which is conceived as an extension of the district and the city's functions, while the upper floors are intended to accommodate training and professional development activities.

Public functions will include a museum dedicated to the history of the complex, a Professional Training Centre with meeting rooms open to the city, spaces for start-ups, a guesthouse, a playroom for children and a library.

Part of the large complex will instead be devoted to artists' residences, and craft professions, with appropriate exhibition spaces.

The history of the former convent in a nutshell:

1309 foundation of the Benedictine convent and St Ursula's Church
1327 to 1627 various extensions of the convent
1773 suppression by Leopold of Lorraine of the religious companies
1808 suppression by Napoleon's edict and transfer to the state property ends religious function
from 1816 to 1818 it was converted into a tobacco factory (later transferred to the Nuova Manifattura in the Cascine area in 1940)
from 1945 to 1968 the premises are first used as a shelter for Istrian exiles and evictees and then later abandoned
1975 concession of the complex by the State Property Office to the University for a project to build accommodation and services for students
1985 project and work to adapt the complex for use as the Guardia di Finanza headquarters
2009 transfer of ownership from the State Property Office to the Province, then to the Metropolitan City of Florence