On Tuesday January 19, 2021 at 12 noon, Mr. Dario NARDELLA, Mayor of Florence, and Mr. Philippe BAUDRY, CEO of ARTEA, presented the Sant'Orsola conversion and transformation project at a virtual press conference.
Following a call for tenders by the Metropolitan City of Florence, the ARTEA Group was selected to rehabilitate the Sant'Orsola site, with the signing of a concession contract granting it use of the site for 50 years.
The Sant'Orsola complex is an ancient 14th-century convent built around 3 large courtyards, with a total surface area of around 17,000 m2.
Located in the heart of Florence, Sant'Orsola is close to the Mercato Centrale di Firenze, Santa-Maria-Novella main railway station, Piazza del Duomo, San Lorenzo Basilica and the Medici Chapels.
From the very first visit to the site nearly two years ago, ARTEA was captivated by the beauty and poetry of the setting. The complex also offers fantastic potential, not least thanks to its organization around three courtyards.
In collaboration with the City of Florence and under the patronage of Mayor Dario NARDELLA, ARTEA will revitalize the Sant'Orsola complex by creating a genuine living space offering a range of uses and activities (both public and private).
Indeed, Sant'Orsola is a jewel dear to the hearts of Florentines, which is why ARTEA has imagined a 100% Florentine project where Sant'Orsola is open to the city.
Sant'Orsola will be home to a number of public-interest facilities designed to provide new services for local residents and the town as a whole:
Complementary private-interest facilities:
All the facilities and services on offer are designed to meet the needs and desires of visitors as closely as possible. So anyone staying at Sant'Orsola can spend a day: meeting & sharing, learning & working, being inspired & entertained, eating & resting.
Seduced by the special atmosphere and ambience of Sant'Orsola, ARTEA will draw inspiration from the building's many transformations over the centuries to design a renovation that both respects the identity of the site and enhances the works undergoing renovation.