Venue

Fortezza da Basso
Viale Filippo Strozzi, 1
Florence, Italy
T: +39 05549721 F: +39 0554973237
Website: www.firenzefiera.it/en/our-venues/fortezza-da-basso

A masterpiece of the Renaissance architecture, the Fortezza da Basso was planned by Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane, commissioned by Alessandro de’ Medici, the first Duke of Florence, and built between 1534 and 1536. The Fortezza has been the main Congress & Exhibition Center venue for Florence and for central Italy since 1967, being strategically located in the historic city centre.
The Fortezza da Basso has an overall surface of over 80,000 sq m – of which 55,000 are roofed – and is an ideal place for fairs, such as the well renowned International Handcrafts Trade Fair, and congresses with a high number of participants as well as being a privileged place to host official receptions and gala events. A unique location in the world, combining perfectly restored historic locations, such as the Monumental Area, the Teatrino Lorenese and the Polveriera, with modern pavilions such as the Spadolini Pavilion (25,620 sq m on three levels) and the Cavaniglia Pavilion, opened in 1996, offering a wonderful visual impact of the 16th-century walls on one side of the building.
The conservative restoration of the whole area was carried out according to the space destination and to the requirements of the event organisers, exhibitors and visitors. Access to pavilions and to interior spaces is made possible through three driveway and pedestrian gates (Porta S. Maria Novella, Porta Faenza and Porta Mugnone) and two pedestrian entrances (Porta alle Carra and Porta Soccorso alla Campagna).

Access to Venue

• Arriving by car
  Florence is well connected with the main Italian cities, thanks to the Italian motorway network, thus making it easier to get to the city centre, where the Fair & Congress Center is located.
• Arriving by train
  The main railway station of Santa Maria Novella is located two minutes away by foot from the entrance of the Fair & Congress Center, and from the central reception of Firenze Fiera, on the ground floor of Palazzo degli Affari. The other two railway stations (Rifredi and Campo di Marte) are at a ten-minute distance from the central railway station of Santa Maria Novella, and connected to it through local trains and city buses.
• Arriving by plain
  The International Florence Airport “Amerigo Vespucci” (IATA code – FLR) is only 4 km away from the Florence city centre and can be easily reached by taxi or with the Ataf/Sita ‘Vola in Bus’ shuttle service, connecting the airport to the main railway station of Santa Maria Novella in just 15-20 minutes. Thanks to the connections with Rome Fiumicino Airport, Milan Malpensa and the main European capitals, Florence is easily connected to the rest of the world. The main car rental companies can be found inside the airport

For further information about your access to the venue, please click here.