Florence's Fortezza Da Basso

Fortezza da Basso, called also Fortezza of Saint John the Baptist (the patron saint of Florence), was commissioned by the Medici family and built in 1533 in the northern area of the historical city centre of Florence.

The architecture and design of the Fortezza

The complex of the "Fortezza" was built like those of a mediaeval city thanks to the idea of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, one of the greatest architects in Florence, with the help of Pierfranceco da Viterbo: the facade of the dungeon are designed with spherical spearhead made of stones, to resemble the symbol of the Medici family. At the time of the demolition of the Florence city walls dating back to ''300, during the brief period of Florence capital of Italy, the fortress was isolated and its walls were levelled.

Once a house of correttion, nowadays the ,most important exhibition space in Florence

Under Piero Leopoldo Fortezza da Basso was used as house of correction: today, Fortezza da Basso is the largest exhibition centre in Florence, with an area of 34,000 metres, to hosts the most significant exhibitions and fairs of the city (Pitti Immagine, Florence Gift Mart, EuroCamper, Prato Expo, International Craft and Trade Fair).

All the main events in Florence are staged at Fortezza da Basso

All the main events in Florence are staged at Fortezza da Basso, even the "strangest" ones, like "do-knit-yourself", a national meeting of fans of knit-bars, the new fashion that broke out in USA and Japan, or "Terra Futura", and international meeting about sustainability in the future world.

This year "Terra Futura" in Florence

Terra Futura, born during the World Social Forum in Nairobi, is coming back to Florence at Fortezza da Basso. 3 days for a project promoting a more sustainable development of social, environmental and industrial issues: alternative energy, international cooperation, ethic finance. Institutions take part to the event that stages meetings, workshops, other than exhibitions and pure entertainment.

I stayed at Lorenzo il Magnifico is a luxury hotel in Florence near Fortezza da Basso Expo center for the International Craft Fair.