Madonna della Neve Square at Le Murate

One of the two exercise yards of Florence’s Murate prison has become a new city square, Piazza Madonna della Neve. Fully pedestrianised, it is surrounded by buildings of the former convent, later converted into a prison and redeveloped to a design by Renzo Piano. MIP, Murate Idea Park, occupies premises on the square to promote innovation and start-ups. It uses the structures most reminiscent of prison life, which were left intact. Other buildings have been converted into homes. Of the church of Santa Maria della Neve, once part of the complex, only the façade remains, incorporated seamlessly into the high Murate wall along Via Ghibellina. A corridor lined with businesses bounds another side of the square and connects to the other former yard, now Piazza delle Murate. There you will find the Caffè Letterario, a venue for cultural events, and MAD, the Murate Art District.