In Florence, the traditional Rivoire coffee, in Piazza della Signoria, launched a symbolic project: 1-euro espresso for city residents. The initiative aims to reconnect Florentines with the historic center, currently heavily focused on tourism.
Founded in 1872, Rivoire is known as one of the city's most elegant cafés. Overlooking the Palazzo Vecchio, the place is frequented by tourists and now wants to attract residents back with an accessible and welcoming proposal.
A symbolic gesture to regain the center
Dubbed "caffè del Fiorentino," the initiative offers espresso for 1 euro at the counter to those who can prove residency in Florence or neighboring towns: Fiesole, Scandicci, Impruneta, Bagno a Ripoli, Sesto Fiorentino, and Campi Bisenzio. This condition also applies to foreigners officially residing in the region.
The reduced price represents a savings of 80 cents compared to the traditional price. According to Marco Fallani, director of the café and creator of the project, the intention is clear: “We want to say: this city is still your home”, said to Corriere della Sera.
Rivoire invests in citizenship and sustainability
The 1-euro coffee is part of a larger strategy to reconnect with citizens. Originally a chocolate shop founded by Enrico Rivoire, Rivoire has transformed over the years into a meeting space for writers, artists, and politicians.
In recent years, the establishment has undergone renovations and revamped its identity. In addition to the symbolic price of the coffee, there is also an incentive to consume locally: a sign on the counter advises customers to avoid takeaways, a common practice among tourists.
“The goal is to encourage counter-top consumption, Italian style, while also reducing waste in the historic center,” explained Fallani.
In the first few days of the campaign, many residents returned to the café. Some even chose to pay full price as a way of supporting the initiative. This simple yet meaningful gesture shows that Recovering local daily life is possible even in the most touristic centers of Italy.
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