Organization | Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore di Firenze

Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore – Florence
founded in 1296

The Opera di S. Maria del Fiore is a ”works commission” in the terms specified by law. no. 848 of 1929 and successive modifications. In 1998, the Institution acquired the qualification of Socially Useful Non-profit Organization (ONLUS). Its Statute is approved by the Minister of the Interior.

In compliance with the regulations concerning “works commissions” (Law no. 222/1985, art. 72), it is directed by a Council composed of seven members, appointed for three years by the Minister of the Interior, on recommendation of the Archbishop and the Prefect of Florence. The President, legal representative of the institution, is elected among the Council members and appointed with a decree by the Minister of the Interior. Council members render their services without recompense and can be reconfirmed in office. It rests with the Council to deliberate on acts of the institution. Resolutions are executed by the President.

Today, in as much as a “works commission”, the Opera is subject to the 1929 Concordat and, as such, directed by a Council composed of seven members who are appointed every three years with a decree by the Minister of the Interior, and elect one member as President. As of 1998, the Opera has juridically taken the shape of a Socially Useful Non-profit Organization (ONLUS), regulated by its own statute which includes among its institutional purposes, the “protection, promotion and valorization of its artistic patrimony”.

The Institution’s general management is entrusted to the Administrator..

The Technical Office, headed by the Technical Director, sees to keeping watch over the entire monumental complex of the Opera di S. Maria del Fiore, establishes the annual plan of maintenance and conservation interventions upon authorization from the competent Supervisory Service, directs and coordinates these interventions which can be performed by internal personnel (stonemasons, restorers and specialized workers), coordinated by two department heads, or by external enterprises with specific competence.

The Archives, headed by the Archivist, is entrusted with conserving, valorizing and affording scholars, the archive, library, graphic and photographic patrimony accumulated in the course of centuries by the Opera del Duomo.

The Administrative Office sees to accountancy, personnel and general affairs.

Surveillance of the cathedral and monuments is entrusted to a security guard corps, coordinated by four senior officers who answer to the service coordinator.