Venue

Passion for Photonic Glasses will take place in the Chiesa Meeting Room at the “Il Fuligno” Training and Services Center, located at Via Faenza 48, 50123 Florence.

The venue is situated in the heart of Florence’s historic center, just 500 meters from the Santa Maria Novella central railway station. 

The History of Il Fuligno

Il Fuligno is set within an ancient complex that dates back to the 14th century, originally serving as one of many Florentine institutes dedicated to providing hospitality, assistance, and a place of prayer for those in need.

• Early Origins: Documented as a refuge for hermits as early as 1316, the site later housed Benedictine nuns. In 1419, it was purchased by Ginevra Bardi, who transformed it into a magnificent convent.

• The "Convent of the Countesses": The Franciscan Third Order eventually settled here, arriving from the Sant’Anna in Fuligno monastery. Because the order was founded by the noble Angiolina della Corbara and led by noble sisters, the site became known as “di Fuligno” or “of the Countesses,” establishing a feminine legacy that endured for centuries.

• Artistic Expansion: Consecrated in 1429 as Sant’Onofrio, the complex grew to include a large dormitory and refectory, adorned with artworks donated by prominent Florentine families.

• A Place of Education: During the Napoleonic era, the site transitioned into a center of assistance. It was later sold to Maria Luisa di Borbone, Queen of Etruria, who commissioned architect Giuseppe Del Rosso to restore it. His work defined the building's current exterior. It then became the Educatorio di Fuligno, a school where young women from modest backgrounds could study and learn a trade. Later, the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul established one of Florence's first primary schools here.

• Modern Restoration: The Educatorio concluded its activities in the 1970s. A comprehensive restoration project took place between 1977 and 2001 to preserve its vast artistic heritage. Today, the complex serves as a training and services center for Montedomini, an agency of the City of Florence which also manages, in a different location, a structure for the shelter and care for the poor and sick. 

• Visitors can still admire remarkably intact frescoes dating from 1419–1429, attributed to the school of the elegant Late Gothic artist Bicci di Lorenzo.

The Cenacolo del Fuligno

A separate entrance at Via Faenza 40 leads to the Cenacolo del Fuligno museum. This former refectory houses a prestigious fresco of the Last Supper.

Measuring 4.40 x 8 meters, the fresco was rediscovered in 1845. While initially attributed to Raphael, modern art historians agree it is the work of the school of Pietro Vannucci (il Perugino), likely painted between 1493 and 1496.