Forte Belvedere and Santa Maria Novella Finally Reopen

While COVID has halted some summer activities from taking place, Fort Belvedere and the Museum of Santa Maria Novella have announced their reopening to the public in compliance with anti-COVID security measures. And better yet, although there is no contemporary sculpture show held at the moment as usual in the summer, Forte Belvedere is offering free admission on its grassy lawns overlooking the city starting on July 10 to patrons for the rest of the season.

Beginning on July 10, the church and museum of the Santa Maria Novella will be accessible on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm, offering guided tours in Italian at 11 am and 5 pm for a fee of €2,50.  Located on a hilltop at the end of the Costa San Giorgio, Forte Belvedere will be accessible every day except Monday starting on July 11 from 3 to 8 pm with guided visits in Italian available onsite at 6 and 7 pm at a cost of €2,50.  Culture councilman Tommaso Sacchi and the other members of city council gave the go-ahead for its reopening.  Palazzo Vecchio, which began welcoming visitors again on July 2, is providing visits for families in English at 4 pm, always for €2.50.  Reservations for all tours are required; to do so, send an email to info@muse.comune.fi.it.

“Little by little we regain possession of places associated with culture which have long closed due to the pandemic, giving a decisive signal of the city’s rebirth,” says Sacchi. 

On July 11, Forte Belvedere’s reopening will be celebrated with a free theatre performance at 6 pm in collaboration with the Tuscan Theatre Foundation.  Curated by Sergio Risalti of the Novecento Museum of 20th and 21st Century Art, 15 young Italian actors will interpret a piece entitled “The Belvedere Grand Tour: from Montaigne and Goethe to Stendhal and Rilke, from Taine to James.”  This a series of readings of works by these illustrious visitors of the past — mainly artists and writers — takes place overlooking the very historical landmarks that they described in their journals.  

“In recent years the Fort Belvedere has been home to some of the most important contemporary art exhibitions, from that of Henry Moore to Penone and Gormley, from Fabre to Ytalia and Mattiacci,” says Risaliti. “ Returning to the Forte after all these months, and in such a difficult moment, means kick-starting art and culture once again as a tribute to the city and its heritage, to citizens and to travellers.  The July 11 show is a way to reestablish a link between the past and the present, between literature and art history, between the young actors of today and famous protagonists of the art of yesterday,” said Sacchi.

Forte Belvedere can be visited until October 11. For access to Santa Maria Novella, it is recommended to book tickets through the website, although the ticket offices will be open onsite. (lauren polanski)