Crime Falls in Florence, but Santa Maria Novella Station Sees Rise

Florence has recorded an overall decrease in crime during the first half of 2025, but the Santa Maria Novella train station area and parts of the historic center remain exceptions.

According to the latest analysis presented at the provincial committee for public order and safety, the number of reported crimes fell significantly across most of the city’s five districts. In the Quartiere 1, which includes much of the city center, crimes dropped by 37.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Areas such as Via Palazzuolo, the Cascine park, the ex-Teatro Comunale zone, San Jacopino, Novoli, and the Fortezza all registered notable decreases.

The Santa Maria Novella station area, however, bucked the trend, showing a 23 percent increase in reported crimes. Authorities highlighted this zone as a continuing concern, despite the broader decline in thefts and robberies in the city center.

Break-ins targeting shops — often referred to smash-and-grab thefts — also showed a marked decline. Citywide, incidents dropped sharply, with the number of cases in the historic center falling from 175 to 117.

Police and municipal authorities attributed the improvement to tighter controls, targeted ordinances, and “red zones” designated by the prefect in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior. In the first eight months of the year, 271 removal orders were issued in key areas such as Santa Maria Novella, the Fortezza, and the Cascine, with 115 violations reported.

Checks along the tramway network have also intensified: more than 8,000 people were stopped, including almost 4,000 foreign nationals, leading to 98 charges and five arrests.

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