The Florence public prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary inquiry into the he black-and-white tower rising above the newly built luxury complex on the site of the former Teatro Comunale. The investigation, which currently has no suspects, was launched on an exploratory basis to determine whether any violations of building or urban planning regulations may have occurred.
The case has stirred debate well beyond questions of taste and architecture. The committee Salviamo Firenze welcomed the move, calling the Tower an “offense to the city” and urging clarity on how the project obtained its authorizations. Local councillor Dmitrij Palagi of Sinistra Progetto Comune stressed that the issue is political rather than aesthetic, arguing that a public asset has been turned into an exclusive luxury development without sufficient safeguards for public interest.
Concerns have also been raised about Florence’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Opposition councillor Luca Santarelli of Noi Moderati compared the situation to Liverpool, which lost its UNESCO recognition in 2021 after large-scale redevelopment of its historic docks. He warned that the Tower could expose Florence to similar risks, since the building disrupts the skyline of the historic center that UNESCO only recently expanded to include the Lungarno area.
The prosecutor’s inquiry follows weeks of public controversy. While the project had been approved by the City of Florence, the Region of Tuscany, and the Soprintendenza, the stark modern structure within the UNESCO buffer zone continues to generate criticism from residents, architects, and political groups alike.
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