- UNESCO World Heritage World - UNESCO Historic Centre of Florence inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982 THE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF FLORENCE CENTRE OF THE HISTORIC PLAN OF THE MANAGEMENT The Management Plan of the Historic Centre of Florence, approved by the City Council on the 19th January 2016, with deliberation No.8, is edited by the UNESCO Office of the Service for City Museums and Events of the Department for Culture and Sport of the Florence Municipality. Director, Direction for Culture and Sport Gabriella Farsi Director, Service for City Museums and Events Carmela Valdevies Manager of the UNESCO Office of the Municipality of Florence, site manager and coordinator of the site Management Plan Carlo Francini Text by: Carlo Francini Chiara Bocchio Valentina Ippolito Manuel Marin Contribution by: Laura Aiello Caterina Aprile Valentina Anti Maria Bueno Anna Carletto Carolina Capitanio Giulia Cotta Miray Hasaltum Francesca Masi Ilenia Romano Martina Vicini Michal Wosinski The Association MUS.e supported the drafting of the new Management Plan. In the compilation of the Management Plan, documents and data provided directly by the project managers have also been used. Translation curated by Lexis srl www.firenzepatrimoniomondiale.it FORWARD Florence has always been an emblem of Italian art and culture in the world. In 1982, in recognition of its exceptional value, the Historic Centre of Florence was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After all, Florence has always been considered a place belonging to all humanity. This is due in large part to the role it has played in the history of civilization and, in particular, to its renown as the birthplace of modern Humanism. Florence’s outstanding cultural importance was, in fact, one of the criteria for its inclusion in the World Heritage List. Florence’s heritage consists not only of the stone and marble monuments which are admired by millions of visitors from all over the world, but also of the cultural and literary works left by great artists, poets and writers as a legacy to humanity, works that have made Florence famous wor- ldwide. The Outstanding Universal Value of Florence is incremented by the intangible heritage represented by the Florentine handicrafts and traditional shops, which provide concrete evidence of continuity with the past by perpetuating the historical and creative image of the city. Our city is, therefore, a living place . a place for developing and transmitting a culture of creati- ve ideas, processes and habits. Florence is a varied and dense environment, made of interactions and networks, capable of genera- ting creative paths for the development of new lifestyles. We have the duty to translate the principles of the 1972 World Heritage Convention into local actions and policies. In this context, the Management Plan of the Historic Centre of Florence is a valuable tool for the city government – for conserving and safeguarding, but also for enhancing knowledge and raising awareness of Florence’s broader cultural heritage. Florence approved its first Management Plan in 2006 an its second in January of this year. The new Management Plan is an operational tool capable of combining the different realities and situations which exist in the historic centre and of coping with site threats. It identifies objectives and strategic actions shared by Florence stakeholders and citizens. Moreover, the Regulations for Economic Activities are proofs of the great effort made by the city government to limit commercial activities which are not compatible with the World Heritage values and to protect traditional shops and local handicraft activities, the intangible heritage of the city. In the words of the preamble to the 1972 World Heritage Convention, we are living in a historical period in which our heritage is “increasingly threatened with destruction not only by the traditional causes of decay but also by changing social and economic conditions” – and, I might add, even by intentional attacks. Therefore, it is the duty of the whole of humanity to strengthen the spirit of cooperation among countries in order to respond to the challenges related to the protection of World Heritage properties. In this light, the city of Florence is proud to have reinforced its ties with UNESCO in recent years. It is with great pleasure that I mention the Third International UNESCO Forum on Culture and Cultural Industries, the 18th ICOMOS General Assembly and, last but not least, the Unity in Diversity Forum that brought together eight mayors from different countries around the world. The Declaration of Florence, the result of the UNESCO Forum on Culture and Cultural Industries, and the Charter of Florence, signed by mayors in attendance at Unity in Diversity, provide strong stimuli to create: a centre dedicated to the research and study of the role of cultural industries in international policies and strategies for sustainable development, a permanent Committee of Mayors to promote a new role for cities in protecting and enhancing our heritage and diversity in cultural and linguistic expression – and in serving peace. These important international events: beyond answering the call of duty to protect and enhance of our heritage, they are testimony to the strategic role local communities can play in economic and cultural growth and in advancing peace, tolerance and unity among the peoples of very different cultural backgrounds who inhabit this world. Dario Nardella 4 Piano di Gestione Mayor of Florence INTRODUCTION TO THE MANAGMENT PLAN In drafting the Management Plan we have taken a single aim into consideration: not only to preserve but to enhance the Outstanding Universal Value of the Historic Centre of Florence. In short: KNOWING, LIVING, SAFEGUARDING the UNESCO World Heritage site. You will come across these three words frequently in the pages that follow. They are like a mantra that keeps us on the right path, and we shall never tire of repe- ating that this is our task, nothing more and nothing less. After almost ten years of operation, it is essential to take stock of the situation. In 2005 there was not the slightest awareness that Florence, or rather its Histo- ric Centre, had been inscribed in the World Heritage List. There was no official document or regulation that mentioned this unique characteristic. Now both the plans and the regulations of the Municipality of Florence bear witness to the fact that Florence is a World Heritage. On the 25th anniversary of the inscription of Florence in the World Heritage List, a plaque was affixed in Palazzo Vecchio in honour of this recognition: this was, moreover, one of the very few obligations set forth in the World Heritage Convention of 1972. Much has been done in these years of incessant relations, meetings and sha- red projects, but much also remains to be done. Possibly the most important objective that has been pursued in this period is that of providing the Core Zone of the Historic Centre of Florence with its Buffer Zone. As a result of the research carried out by the University of Florence, this goal has been achieved through an innovative method which other international World Heritage sites intend to acquire and share. Another initiative to which we are fervently committed Firenzeis perBene. This project is characterised by a direct approach to citizens and visitors and is being carried forward with a large number of partners. In addition to the projects mentioned above, the Action Plan also delineates others that have been selected in consultation with the stakeholders and with the Steering Committee with a view to helping us to safeguard the Outstanding Universal Value of Florence. The striking variety of the thematic areas affecting the Historic Centre of Floren- ce makes it easy to understand the complexity of the action we are called upon to carry forward, all of us together. This appeal ought to involve all of us, citizens and visitors alike, since we are all responsible and part of the great family of the World Heritage. Since this heritage belongs to the whole of humanity, then clearly we have to think and act in a conscientious manner so that it can be preserved and passed on to future generations. We are convinced that, working all together, we can contribute to making our Historic Centre a better place, more vital and more liveable. That is what the world asks of us. Carlo Francini Manager of the UNESCO Office of the Municipality of Florence and site manager of the UNESCO World Heritage site “The Historic Centre of Florence” INDEX Foreword Introduction to the Managment Plan How to read the Managment Plan 1. The Historic Centre of Florence, UNESCO World Heritage site 9 1.1 Florence World Heritage: the Outstanding Universal Value 14 1.2 A brief summary of the historic identity and the contemporary image of Florence 21 1.3 The territory: Core Zone and Buffer Zone 27 1.4 The UNESCO Office of the Municipality of Florence 30 2. Vision and Mission 31 2.1 Vision: for a living, thriving and welcoming city 32 2.2 Mission: to preserve the Outstanding Universal Value 33 3. Socio-economic analysis 35 3.1 Demographic indicators 36 3.2 Economic development indicators 37 4. SWOT Analysis 39 4.1 Strengths 41 4.2 Weaknesses 43 4.3 Opportunities 44 4.4 Threats 47 5. Site management system 49 5.1 The integrated approach 50 5.2 The participation of the local community 52 5.3 The legislative framework of protection 53 6. The new Management Plan 57 6.1 The role of the Management Plan 58 6.2 The Periodic Reporting experience 60 6.3 Towards the second Management Plan: continuity and fractures 62 INDEX 7. Involvement and participation in the Management Plan 65 7.1 The subjects involved 67 7.2 The Focus Groups with the stakeholders 68 7.3 The Ideas Forum and the Consultation Marathon 73 8.