The Florence Stock Exchange Palace is located on Lungarno Diaz and is a splendid building that dates back to the mid-1800s, when the ancient guilds were dissolved by Pietro Leopoldo and this area was chosen to build a palace capable of housing the Chamber, the Stock Exchange, and the National Bank of Tuscany (today it houses the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Handicraft, and Agriculture).

The palace was erected between 1858 and 1860 following a design by the architect Michelangelo Maiorfi, reworked with several modifications by Emilio De Fabris. When Florence was elected the Capital of Italy (1865-1871), the complex retained its function as the Chamber of Commerce: over time, the building underwent various modifications, especially concerning the interiors, culminating in the latest renovation works completed in 2013, under the supervision of the Public Works Office and the direction of engineer Bruno Giannone.

As you can imagine, what strikes us about the interior is the use of Rapolano travertine in the Stock Exchange hall.

The colors of the materials used are:

PDR 120, Bianco Carrara, for the flooring

PDR 011, Becagli Scuro, for the perimeter band of the flooring

PDR 047, Zebra Terra Chiara, for the light coverings

PDR 058,Elm Stone, for the column coverings

It fully reflects the principles of modern architecture that require cleanliness and simplicity, pursuing the ideal that form follows function. It conveys a perfect sense of simplicity, a clear vision of the structural elements, and does not get lost in unnecessary design details. The Rapolano stone does not need artifices or ornamental designs to look its best and give solemnity to a place.

What kind of feeling do you want people to have when they enter a building? Perhaps you want them to feel welcomed, at ease?

Stone helps both public and private buildings achieve this feeling, and the Florence Stock Exchange is further proof of this.