Florence is making a bold move to preserve its charm amidst rising tourism. Using thermal cameras, authorities monitor visitor flows, blending cutting-edge technology with urban management. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the city government, the Department of Information Technology at the University of Florence, and a local Innovation and Research Foundation. They emphasize the importance of pilot projects designed to test innovative digital solutions for the tourism sector—aiming to enhance the efficiency of monitoring and managing tourist influx.
This effort forms part of the TOURISMO project—an acronym for TOURism Innovative and Sustainable Management of Flows—launched in 2024 under the Interreg Euro-Med program. Funded jointly by the European Union and regional policy departments, it aims to create smarter, more sustainable tourist experiences.
“Florence is becoming a smarter city. Thanks to research and experimentation, we can now gather invaluable data to develop digital solutions for sustainable tourism,” said Jacopo Vicini, a member of the Economic Development and Tourism Council, as quoted by The Florentine on August 31, 2025.
The University of Florence’s Department of Information Technology and the Innovation Foundation see this as a groundbreaking innovation. Vicini added, “We began testing in select areas within the UNESCO core zone, with plans to expand the project further, as the potential here is enormous.”
Renowned as a hub of Renaissance art and architecture, Florence is often called an “open-air museum,” celebrated for its rich history, iconic buildings, and masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David.
