Santa Maria Novella Complex to Become New Cultural Hub by 2026

After years of planning and development, the former Carabinieri barracks in Santa Maria Novella is set to become one of the most important new cultural and civic spaces in Florence.

The first major opening is expected in the first half of 2026, with the debut of MUNDI, the National Museum of the Italian Language. It will be followed by the Galileo Lab, the new headquarters of the Alinari Foundation, a civic library, and a large social housing project supported by both national and municipal resources.

The regeneration of the site, located just behind the central train station, reflects a long-standing vision to create a space that blends cultural institutions with community services. With €36 million in total investment, the transformation includes 55 social housing units — partly funded by the national Pimqua housing fund and other municipal contributions — as well as the adaptive reuse of historical buildings for museum and educational purposes. Four of the housing units are already under construction, eight more are in the design phase, and the rest are awaiting funding.

The most anticipated element of the project is MUNDI, Italy’s first national museum dedicated entirely to the Italian language. Created in collaboration with key institutions such as the Accademia della Crusca and Treccani, MUNDI first opened two preview rooms in 2022. Now, with renovations completed and the scientific project finalized, the full museum will soon be ready to welcome visitors.

Linguist Giuseppe Antonelli, head of the museum’s scientific committee, describes MUNDI as a place where the language’s evolution can be explored through engaging, multimedia experiences. The new museum will feature 15 rooms in addition to the original two, following a chronological and thematic journey: from modern-day Italian, back through Latin, Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, and forward again to the Italian of today — including the impact of digital communication and artificial intelligence.

Highlights include a section on regional dialects, a room dedicated to language in art and science (with a focus on Galileo), and a multimedia installation called the “Babel of Languages,” featuring dozens of TV screens showing Italian across eras and contexts.

The museum will also include a permanent space dedicated to Luca Serianni, the celebrated linguist who inaugurated the first rooms in 2022.

Alongside MUNDI, the Galileo Lab will function as an interactive science center managed by the Galileo Museum. It will offer hands-on activities, exhibitions, and educational workshops to bring science closer to young people and families.

The complex will also host the permanent exhibition and archive of the Alinari Foundation, which safeguards one of the world’s oldest photography collections. In total, 1,800 square meters will be devoted to Alinari’s public programming and storage. A civic library and redesigned public gardens — replacing concrete with Mediterranean vegetation — will complete the new vision for the site.

The Santa Maria Novella project reflects Florence’s renewed focus on innovation rooted in cultural heritage. Through the convergence of language, science, and civic life, the site is set to become a dynamic, inclusive destination for residents and visitors alike.