By Elisa Fimiano, Liliana Cannas,
Luca Bucciarelli
(Università di Firenze, Corso di Laurea in Media e Giornalismo)

To the already vast collection of Florentine hyphenated “museum”s (the artisan workshop-museum, the villa-museum, the convent-museum, and the cloister-museum) one can now add the CHURCH-MUSEUM.

For the past three years, an act of “obligatory charity”, otherwise referred to as a purchased ticket, is requested upon entrance to certain Florentine churches.
Private organizations control both the collection of entrance fees as well as the access to these spaces, once upon a time considered public. Actual security guards in lay dress categorically block the ticketless from entering these sacred sites and instead invite them to use secondary entrances. By way of the alternative entrances, these privileged few can accommodate themselves in out-of-the-way corners. These dark cramped corners provide the few observant who wish to worship, with the necessary space for prayer, keeping them far enough away from contemplating the “beautiful” of the church, an experience which can only be bought.

The reasons sited for this interdict are the protection and maintenance of invaluable cultural patrimony, and control over the flow of human traffic – both reasonable motivations, but difficult to swallow! Public response is as would be expected: some complain about the price of the ticket, while others question the entrance fee based on principle. Meanwhile, in the shadow of this rampant “museumification” occurring in downtown Florence,

the observant faithful of those peripheral neighborhoods remain ignorant to this strange development.

They continue to enjoy their public place of worship and are ashamed when the story of the famous "Cathedral ticket" is brought to their attention.

The parish priests of the peripheral neighborhood churches avoid commenting on the situation however they are well aware of the change in process, and yet do not appear noticeably disturbed by its consequences. Nowadays, even the clergy is in step with the times and thus asks itself: “Which is better: a believing tourist or a touring believer?”

One parish priest adds that above all other motivations, one should go to church to pray because “prayer is the greatest charity!”

In light of recent developments, one might wonder if it is indeed time to add a new mystery to faith: “Are repentence and charity enough to gain access to the kingdom of heaven? Or is it safer to organize oneself better financially so as to not be found locked outside the golden gates? "

StudentsVille.it with "Università di Firenze"

Home | Studying | Accommodations | Useful information | Florence Map | Cultural Life | Eating Out | Pubs and Bars | Entertainment
Sport and Fitness | Photo Gallery | Forum | F.A.Q. | Working in Florence | Under the Tuscan Skies | E-mail Us

All contents © StudentsVille by dotFlorence Srl