Friends of Florence’s Newest Tabernacle Restoration

One of Florence’s historic street tabernacles has officially been restored and returned to public viewing following conservation work at Via dell’Agnolo 32 on May 27, 2026. The project was funded by Friends of Florence, an non-profit association of volunteers, and carried out under the supervision of local heritage authorities as part of the city’s continued efforts to preserve small religious artworks found throughout Florence.

The fresco inside the tabernacle illustrates the Crucifixion with Saint Anthony Abbot and Saint Verdiana. Experts believe the painting dates back to the late 1500s and may have a connection to the circle of Renaissance artist Andrea del Sarto.

Before restoration began, the artwork had suffered serious damage over time, including paint loss, detached plaster, and older overpainting that covered parts of the original fresco. Conservator Bartolomeo Ciccone completed the restoration work by carefully cleaning the painting while also adding new protective glass to help preserve it in the future.

Although small in size, tabernacles like this one are an important part of Florence’s history and culture. These street shrines can be found throughout neighborhoods across the city and were traditionally created as public devotional spaces. Many residents pass them every day without realizing how much history they hold. Today, Florence has more than 1,200 tabernacles still remaining. 

Since 1991, the Committee for the Restoration and Decoration of Tabernacles has worked with donors and cultural institutions to help restore and protect these historic pieces. Modern preservation efforts are also making the tabernacles more accessible through QR codes and digital maps that allow visitors to explore them throughout Florence as part of an interactive museum experience. This allows both locals and tourists to learn more about the artworks hidden throughout the city.

While many people walk past them every day, projects like this restoration help bring attention back to the smaller details that make Florence’s streets so historically unique.  (Maquinna Peglow)