The "Biblioteca delle Oblate" is a cultural multi-media centre opened on May 25, 2007, in the heart of Florence, just a stone’s throw from Piazza Duomo, following an important urban regeneration project started in 2002. The venue is located in the charming setting of the fourteenth century monastery of the Oblate, a religious community (that takes its name from the Latin oblato = offered) founded by devoted women who took care of the sick of the Santa Maria Nuova hospital.
The Oblate came into being at the end of the fourteenth century at the same time as the hospital, founded by Folco Portinari in 1288, as a laic congregation and only after the Second World War did it become a religious order, with, for all intent and purpose, nuns performing the role of nurses.
The headquarters of the religious order remained there until 1936, when the Oblate moved to the new Careggi hospital; the municipality of Florence purchased the building, renovated it and transferred the municipal library that had previous been located at Palazzo Vecchio there. Other important historical and scientific centres were moved to the location that went on to become a point of reference for cultural events, a distinction that the venue still holds today. The Oblate building develops into two main open spaces, the fourteenth century yard - characterized by a cloister and three lodges - and the garden, dating back to the mid-fifteenth century. The renovation works, which have recently been completed, were designed to complement the spaces inaugurated in 2007. The first part of renovation focused on the Roman side of the Museo Firenze Com’Era, located in the fifteenth century part of the building and covering a surface of 700m² and 250m² of loggia. The section of the library dedicated to children and teenagers (the “Sezione Bambini e Ragazzi”), was opened and inaugurated here in 2013. The urban regeneration the former Firenze Com'Era museum continued, with the second phase, the renovation and requalification of two large areas earmarked to become the new and sole entrance to the library and an area set aside as the welcoming and information point for visitors, as well as a conference room, completed and inaugurated on June 3, 2015. Today the library covers a surface area of 10,000 m², over three floors, of which 7,500m² is covered. Made in Italy ceramics by Ceramiche Caesar were chosen to pave the multi-functional hall and entrance of the library in the redevelopment of tremendous historical and cultural importance.
The Verse collection, one of the latest porcelain tile series of the Fiorano Modenese-based company, was chosen thanks to its ability to bestow a contemporary touch of ‘blend design’ to residential and commercial spaces.
Chosen in Cloud colour and in 30x120, 25x75 and 37.5x75 cm sizes, the Verse series is characterized by the strong substantial appeal and a natural inspiration, creating a new contemporary concept via the perfect balance between different graphic elements. Colour is the synthesis of varied textures, while the natural finish, finely chiseled, combines elegant aesthetics and soft tactile sensations.
Verse, with its union of materials and contemporary interpretations perfectly expresses the style and atmosphere of the Biblioteca delle Oblate venue, where age-old origins merge with the new multi-media vocation, creating a space of enormous historical and cultural interest.
