Firenze ’50 ’60 ’70
Images from the Foto Locchi Archive
A photographic journey through three pivotal decades of Florentine history
7 May – 18 October 2026
A cultural heritage of 150 news photographs documenting pivotal moments in the city’s life, telling stories of art, sport, everyday life, society and culture. Images that represent the collective memory of a city.
Images Foto Locchi/©Archivio Foto Locchi.
The Exhibition
The exhibition, promoted by Fondazione CR Firenze and Archivio Foto Locchi, curated by Giovanna Uzzani, aims to convey not only images but also atmospheres, impressions, transformations and collective memories, in a narrative that is also a portrait of Florentine identity.
The 1950s emerge as a worldly and optimistic period, when Florence became an international catwalk, marked by glamour and La Pira’s utopian vision. The 1960s appear more intense and dramatic, shaped by the 1966 flood and the first student protests. Finally, the 1970s tell of a more reflective and conceptual city, where the Florentine fairy tale fades into a new urban and cultural complexity.
Thematic Sections
The exhibition is organised into ten thematic sections that open with the post-war period. They continue with workers’ demonstrations, through to the 1966 flood. Everyday life is also the protagonist of one section of the exhibition: folk traditions, dives into the Arno and sunbathing along its banks, picnics in the countryside, Sundays at the stadium, the first supermarkets with their distinctive long “S” logo. Also on display are images of Hollywood stars parading through the city, alongside photographs of visits by writers, artists and fashion designers. One room is dedicated entirely to the history of Fiorentina football club and its glories and victories on the pitch. In addition, one section tells the story of the invention of Made in Italy.
The Foto Locchi Archive
Founded in 1924 as “Foto Locchi – Studio d’arte e tecnica fotografica” by Tullio Locchi, already renowned as a war photojournalist and portraitist of the royal family. Following Tullio’s sudden death, in 1926 Foto Locchi was taken over by his closest collaborators and, under the direction of Silvano Corcos, became the city’s official photographic agency. During the most prolific years of the post-war period, the firm employed up to thirty master photographers. As a result of recent acquisitions (the Foto Levi Archive, the Italfotogieffe Archive and the Foto Bazzechi Archive), the archive today preserves over 5 million photographs.
Exhibition Activities
Free guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 5 p.m. for exhibition ticket holders; further guided tours will be offered by the Fondazione Foto Locchi per Firenze (programme and bookings at fotolocchiperfirenze.org). In October, a project dedicated to schools with free visits for students. A programme of themed lectures (schedule available at villabardini.it). In July and August, reduced admission for participants in Cinema in villa. From 3 to 7 June, free admission for participants in La Città dei Lettori.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
| Wednesday 13 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Thursday 14 May | 10:00 - 21:00 |
| Friday 15 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Saturday 16 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Sunday 17 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Monday 18 May | Closed |
| Tuesday 19 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
Last admission: one hour before closing
Special openings: 1, 2 and 24 June; 15 August. Every Thursday until 3 September, the exhibition, garden and cocktail bar are open until 9 p.m.; from 7:30 p.m. free admission to the garden with an exhibition ticket.
| Wednesday 13 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Thursday 14 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Friday 15 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Saturday 16 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Sunday 17 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Monday 18 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
| Tuesday 19 May | 10:00 - 19:30 |
Last admission: one hour before closing
Closed on the first and last Monday of every month
For the month of March only: Via De Bardi entrance: closing time 4:00 PM (last entry 3:00 PM); Costa San Giorgio entrance: closing time 6:00 PM (last entry 5:00 PM).
Tickets
Information
Tel. +39 334 6824744
Every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How to get there
Main Entrance:
Costa San Giorgio 2, Firenze
Secondary Entrance:
Via dei Bardi 1 rosso, Firenze
An exhibition by
In collaboration with
Under the patronage of
