Bocelli Music Academy at Sant’Orsola

In Florence’s San Lorenzo neighborhood, an abandoned building — Sant’Orsola — has has finally been purchased and will begin a new chapter. World famous tenor Andrea Bocelli will receive the necessary permits to begin construction of a music academy in his name, which is estimated to be finished in 30 to 36 months. It is expected to draw students from across the world, an estimated 100 per semester.

Along with the Andrea Bocelli School of Music, the soon-to-be restored and renovated premises will house the Mona Lisa Museum, as it is believed the model of the world famous painting, a member of the Gherardini family, is buried right under the pavement of the former church that is part of the ex-convent.  Additionally, two restaurants, artisan workshops and a children’s daycare center will be included in the establishment.  All will be accessible through the courtyard.  An underground parking garage is also planned.

This lonely establishment has had a turbulent history. Built in 1309 as a convent, it took a nonorthodox turn to become becoming a tobacco factory in 1810.  Sant’Orsola was even a refugee camp for Italian residents fleeing from Yugoslavia in the aftermath of World War II.   There was talk in 1980s of converting it into barracks for the finance police, but it never happened, so it remained empty.

To read more in Italian, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site. (jennifer klammer)