Museum of Sant’Orsola

The Former Convent of Sant’Orsola is located in the heart of Florence, a stone's throw from the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels, a few minutes' walk from the Cathedral.
This space has a history dating back to 1309, when the first core of the convent was founded by four Benedictine nuns. 
Over the centuries, the complex underwent several expansions, eventually taking on its current form. In 1808, by order of the French government, the convent was suppressed and the building was converted into a Tobacco Factory, a function it retained until 1940, when operations were moved to the complex in Piazza Puccini.
The ancient convent’s original patrimony has unfortunately been lost and the space has remained unused for many years.

In anticipation of the museum's official opening, scheduled for 2026, the former convent is hosting a series of exhibitions in the worksite: the initiative aims to preserve the place’s historical memory and promote contemporary artistic creation by inviting artists to converse with the traces of the former Oratory's past.
Visitors can have a firsthand experience of the rebirth of this space, which has remained detached from city life for a long time. 

The future museum space will be that of the ancient 14th-century church: a glass floor will make it possible to walk over the archaeological excavations that uncovered the presence of several Renaissance tombs, including that of Lisa Gherardini - who was allegedly the woman who modeled for the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci.