Fortezza da Basso

A modern and multifunctional venue, where Renaissance and contemporary architecture create a timeless dialogue. The pavilion integrates a long section of the Fortezza da Basso walls &#8211; a powerful setting of exposed stone &#8211; while the roof traces a sort of large wave over the whole building.

Cavaniglia Pavilion

A unique location in the world &#8211; a Medicean fortress in the heart of Florence, combining Renaissance architecture masterpieces and state-of-the-art technologies. A complex of century-old and contemporary buildings, featuring different sizes and characteristics, where you can organise events and exhibitions without leaving anything to chance.
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<h2>From Military Fort to Congress &amp; Exhibition Center</h2>
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<h4>The Origins of the Fortezza da Basso</h4>
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Called by all the Florentines Fortezza da Basso as opposed to Forte del Belvedere, the Fortress of Saint John the Baptist is a Renaissance fort with an overall surface of 80,000 square metres &#8211; of which 55,000 are roofed &#8211; built by architects Pier Francesco da Viterbo and Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane between 1534 and 1537 at the behest of Alessandro de&#8217; Medici. Through this work, the Medicis wanted to create a defensive garrison after the Siege of Florence, but they also wanted to impress the Florentines with an imposing building.
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<h4>Centuries of Modernity</h4>
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Surrounded by massive walls tracing an irregular pentagon, the Fortezza da Basso includes the buildings built for military use in 16th century, the ones from 18th century following the advent of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and the modern pavilions designed by Pierluigi Spadolini after converting the Fortezza to an exhibition center, in 1967.
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<h4>The Fortezza da Basso Today</h4>
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Today, the Fortezza da Basso is part of the Florence Congress &amp; Exhibition Center, a leading hub in Tuscany. Its privileged location and the charm of its venues, where Renaissance and contemporary architecture create a harmonious dialogue, make it a unique place within the global congress and exhibition sector.

The Spadolini Pavilion is the main venue for congresses and exhibitions in Florence. Its distinctive façade in shades of bronze, lined with steel and aluminium elements, houses a building designed to host a large number of people and to organise more events at the same time.

Spadolini Pavilion

The Nazioni Pavilion is a beautiful, contemporary room, where great corporate events and fairs find all the necessary space to organise spectacular settings and welcome large numbers of visitors.

Nazioni Pavilion

The rooms and halls composing the Monumental Area are the most ancient ones of the Fortezza da Basso, as well as one of the most valuable models of Renaissance architecture. This perfect combination of tradition and innovation, and of past and future, captures the very essence of Florence.

Monumental Area

Walking inside the Fortezza da Basso, you can notice the unique lines of a small building – the Polveriera (literally, Gunpowder Deposit). It is a surprising vision, with its pitched roof, its unusual, elongated shape, and its impressive walls.

Polveriera

In the 18th century, the Fortezza da Basso also served as a depot for the sumptuous scenic décor used for the parties organized by the Grand Dukes of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. Today, the Teatrino Lorenese (literally, Lorraine-Habsburg Theatre) is a vivid testimony of Florence at the time. A superbly elegant, but also versatile and functional, space.

Teatrino Lorenese

With its loggia overlooking a large square, the Palazzina Lorenese evokes the charm of Tuscan countryside. Located at the heart of the Fortezza da Basso, next to the Spadolini Pavilion, this 18th-century building was redeveloped to exploit its potential, while maintaining its original character.

Palazzina Lorenese

Once an arms depot of the Fortezza da Basso, today its harmonious proportions meet the needs of all the settings required to organise congresses, conventions, and exhibitions, capturing the essence of Renaissance architecture in a contemporary context.

Arsenale Pavilion

The Sala della Ronda (Patrol Room) is a multifunctional and modular space suitable to host any kind of set-up. The room is located between the renovated Nazioni Pavilion and the historic Polveriera, and together they create an exciting combination of ancient and modern styles.

Sala della Ronda

The Ghiaie Pavilion stands on a large gravel deposit. Its wavy metal surfaces outline a functional and flexible space.

Ghiaie Pavilion

Palazzo dei Congressi

Built in sloping sections, this wonderful Auditorium is an authentic jewel that will leave you speechless at first glance. Still today, after 50 years, it keeps on surprising everyone, it is a top-class space for international congresses organised in the heart of Florence.

Auditorium

Green Room

19th-century Villa Vittoria houses Palazzo dei Congressi, a historic location for the main national and international MICE events, attracting participants from all over the world. Built in neo-16th-century style and surrounded by a century-old park, it is directly connected to the Fortezza da Basso through a pedestrian square.
<a href="http://firenzefiera.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/pannello-villavittoria04-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here</a>, if you wish to learn more about the charming history of Villa Vittoria or visit the page dedicated <a href="https://firenzefiera.it/en/visit/palazzo-dei-congressi">Palazzo dei Congressi.</a>

Villa Vittoria

Located in the century-old park of Villa Vittoria, the roof of the Auditorium at Palazzo dei Congressi is not just a simple cover. It is a completely renovated open-air Amphitheatre, a spectacular square of great visual impact, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman caveas.

Amphitheatre

Born as Villa Vittoria’s winter garden to protect some plants from the cold weather, the Limonaia (Orangery) is flooded by natural light thanks to its large windows marking its façade. Its charming open space projects the Limonaia into the century-old trees of the park surrounding it.

Limonaia

Palazzo degli Affari

Completely renovated in 2021 and inaugurated in 2022, Palazzo degli Affari is an excellent congress venue dominated by a panoramic terrace. It is a modular and completely convertible space, with solutions to guarantee acoustic comfort and multi-sensory features, always at the forefront of environmental sustainability &#8211; energy from renewable sources, eco-sustainable materials, and low-emission electromagnetic pollution.

Ground Floor

First Floor

Completely renovated in 2021, Palazzo degli Affari is an excellent congress venue. Dominated by a panoramic terrace, it is a modular and completely convertible space, always at the forefront of environmental sustainability and equipped with innovative and spectacular technical solutions.

Second Floor

Third Floor

Fourth Floor

Lower Floor

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Belvedere

Hall

Sala Verde

Tavola Rotonda

Primo Piano

Sala 4

Sala 5

Sala 9

Sala 11

Sala 12

Sala 101

Sala 105

Sala Onice

Salone Club

Located on the Ground Floor, the Sala Onice (Onyx Room) can accommodate up to 75 people, while 6 other small rooms are ideal to organize meetings and catering services. A monumental staircase leads to the First Floor, while the lunette-vaulted ceiling, the mosaic floors and the stained-glass windows witness the work of the great architects who contributed to design these environments over timeArea

A Prestigious Architecture for Prestigious Events in Florence

On either side of the great central Gallery on the First Floor, you will find 8 comfortable meeting rooms, equipped to organize meetings and catering services. These are extremely charming environments, featuring richly decorated coffered ceilings, stone portals with marble inlays and furnishings specially designed by Gio Ponti and handmade in the 1930s.

Comfort, Technology and Elegance

Overlooking a unique city centre in the world – a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982 &#8211; Villa Vittoria’s Belvedere is located on top of Palazzo dei Congressi. It is an ideal location for prestigious lunches, receptions, and meetings, surrounded by an unparalleled scenario.

Contemplating a Human Heritage Landscapes

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Allestimento

Anfiteatro

A modern LED lighting turns on along the steps of the Amphitheatre, surprisingly illuminating the Florence nights. Surrounded by the ‘embrace’ of the park, this location allows to organise film and theatre festivals, cultural events, and special initiatives.

Characteristics of the Amphitheatre

In the Heart of the Park, in the Heart of Florence

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Limonaia e giardino

Once housing and protecting a wide variety of plants, today it hosts art exhibitions, meetings, and events, and receives visitors during conventions and congresses. Located between Palazzo dei Congressi and Palazzo degli Affari, it is the ideal link between them, or an ideal registration or catering area for events involving both venues.

Characteristics of the Limonaia

Hosting and Welcoming

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Allestimenti banchi

Talk Show

Ballatoio

Passi Perduti

The large capacity of the Auditorium makes it the ideal location for congresses with many participants. At the same time, various set-up layouts allow to turn it into a perfect setting for smaller events, even for just 500 participants. It boasts the most state-of-the-art technologies to organise virtual events within an unparalleled scenario.

Characteristics of the Auditorium

Welcoming Large Numbers, Covering Long Distances

Passi Perduti (literally, Lost Steps) is the name of the area surrounding the Auditorium, embracing it with sinuous lines recalling the bends of the river Arno. Featuring a bar, it can be used as exhibiting area, or to set up standing or seated catering services, or to welcome congress visitors thanks to a large registration area equipped with reception desks.

Palazzo dei Congressi – Auditorium-5

On the Second Floor of Villa Vittoria, you will find the Sala Verde (Green Room), a modern space designed to organise meetings and small conventions. It is directly connected to two adjacent rooms, which you can also access from the outside. Furthermore, it is also a technologically advanced studio for high-profile online events. On the same floor, you will also find a foyer, a small meeting room, a cloakroom area, and many relax areas.

The characteristic of Green Room

Anything You Need for a Small Convention

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Auditorium - Firenze Fiera

Firenze Fiera

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Auditorium makes the ideal location for congresses with many participants, equipped with a large stage and a charming movie screen.