Graffiti removed from 27 sites across Florence in six months

Florence carried out 27 operations to remove vandalism and offensive graffiti from monuments, historic buildings and other public spaces during the first half of 2026, according to figures released by Plures Alia and the Fondazione Angeli del Bello.

The work was carried out by the Custodi del Bello, a specialist team involved in the maintenance and recovery of urban spaces. The programme is run through a partnership between Plures Alia, the company responsible for waste and environmental services in central Tuscany, and the non-profit Fondazione Angeli del Bello. Their agreement has recently been renewed for another three years.

Among the sites treated were the façade of the Basilica of Santa Trinita, the Rotonda del Brunelleschi, the Santa Croce area, several street tabernacles, the railway underpass on Viale Fratelli Rosselli and the perimeter wall of Meyer Children’s Hospital.

The three-person specialist team spent more than 30 working days removing graffiti and restoring surfaces. Some operations required additional personnel because of the size or complexity of the site.

One of the most demanding interventions took place in the Gasometro area, near Porta San Frediano, where work continued for several consecutive days. At the Basilica of Santa Trinita, six people worked for about 50 hours because the irregular surface of the façade made the removal process particularly complex.

Different methods for historic surfaces

The techniques used depend on the material and condition of each surface. Paints and pigments are matched to the existing colours so that repaired areas remain as unobtrusive as possible, while smaller markings can be treated individually.

Historic or architecturally significant surfaces require specific methods designed to avoid damaging the original materials. In Florence’s historic centre, the work must also comply with requirements set by the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio, the state heritage authority responsible for protecting historic buildings, monuments and archaeological sites.

The programme has continued beyond the period covered by the six-month figures. During August, the Custodi del Bello also worked at the Museo Memoriale delle Deportazioni, which had been targeted with offensive graffiti shortly before the Ferragosto holiday, as well as at the Salvemini school and the Oltrarno school complex in Piazza dei Nerli.

The team is also carrying out maintenance at previously restored locations and working on the Santa Croce Refit project, which focuses on the upkeep of public spaces in and around the Santa Croce area.

(Cover photo: press release Plures Alia)