Disgruntled monks intend to fortify their age-old monastery in Florence, slated for purchase by a property developer, staging a stand-off.
In the heart of Florence, 65-year-old Father Giuseppe Pagano and his fellow monks are rearing for a fight. Hailing from the Santo Spirito monastery, a place steeped in history and culture, they stand against a proposed luxury retirement home planned to replace their quiet haven.
"Silence is no longer an option," Pagano declared to CNN, following a demonstration in the monastery, once home to Michelangelo himself. Surrounded by construction equipment, the monastery serves as a battleground in this titanic struggle. "We're ready to occupy the grounds, and we won't think twice about facing fines or jail time," he added, showing true grit and determination.
The monastery, founded in 1397 and cared for by the Augustinian order for centuries, holds a special place in history. The current complex, located across the Arno river from Florence's historic center, houses a wooden crucifix carved by the legendary Renaissance master, Michelangelo, for its basilica.
In 1866, the then-Italian state seized the upper rooms, leaving the monks to inhabit the lower areas. Now, the impending transformation of a military barracks on the site, offering balconies overlooking a cloistered courtyard used by the monks, has sparked outrage.
Last year, the Italian defense ministry put out a tender for renovating its part of the complex, won by development firm Fastpol. Specialized in luxury retirement properties and hotels, this firm seems poised to transform the monastery's tranquil atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, the ministry has remained silent on the dispute with the friars.
Father Pagano claims they were kept in the dark about the plans, even though they had asked to be updated on any army movement. Now, he's enlisting support from "Salviamo Firenze," a group established to safeguard Florence from overtourism. They plan to join the monks in barricading themselves inside the monastery once work begins.
In an attempt to sway officials, the friars and Augustinian Villanova University in Pennsylvania have proposed an alternative plan, featuring a community center, a library, and a conference room, with student accommodations. However, their calls for meetings with the defense minister and mayor of Florence have gone unanswered.
Lawyer Lorenzo Calvani, representing the Augustinians, has prepared a legal suit, should the project proceed. "We will not stand idly by," he declared emphatically. In a letter to Florence's mayor, Father Pagano made a heartfelt plea for the city's support, hoping it would back their counter-plan.
Eike Schmidt, former director of the Uffizi museum in Florence, has thrown his weight behind the Santo Spirito friars. "This battle goes beyond Florence, Italy, and our civilization," he emphasized. "If the monastery loses its identity, we lose a significant piece of our history," he continued. A news conference is planned to raise public awareness, and a growing wave of solidarity for the monks may help turn the tide in their favor.
- Father Giuseppe Pagano and his monks, partly relegated to the lower areas of the Santo Spirito monastery since 1866, are now planning to travel and occupy the disputed grounds, hoping to partly star the monks' battleground against the proposed luxury retirement home.
- In an effort to save the historical Santo Spirito monastery and restore its tranquil atmosphere, the monks, with support from the group "Salviamo Firenze," plan to barricade themselves inside the monastery once work on the new development begins.
- In response to the proposed luxury project that could potentially dismantle the monastery's unique character and relegate its monks to the sidelines, the monks, led by Father Giuseppe Pagano, are seeking the support of Augustinian Villanova University and renowned figures like Eike Schmidt to help advance their counter-plan for the monastery's future.
