This Italian airport is getting a 75,000 m² vineyard on its roof
As if you needed any more reasons to visit the beautiful Italian city of Florence… Of course, there are already plenty: the magnificent Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio—and let’s not forget the food. But in a few years, the festivities will begin upon arrival, because the airport is getting a gigantic makeover. Its most remarkable new feature will be a fully functioning vineyard spanning more than 75,000 m² on the roof.
Rafael Viñoly Architects, responsible for the airport’s new design, shared the ambitious plans this week.
The vineyard is no gimmick
There’s a good chance you might expect it to be more of a gimmick than a serious vineyard—but that is absolutely not the case. The plans include space for 38 rows of grapevines, and according to Rafael Viñoly Architects, a ‘leading winemaker from the region’ has already agreed to collaborate with them. The wine produced on the roof will then be stored in cellars beneath the airport.
Rafael Viñoly died in March 2023, but had previously spoken about his plans for the airport: ‘Florence is a place where things become permanent landmarks because they have a fundamental sense of internal logic and quality. Because the airport, which is the gateway to the city and its culture, is so extremely close to the city center, this must be an urban project, not an isolated project separated from everything else.’
Amerigo Vespucci Airport, as Florence’s airport is called, is indeed very close to the sights: the distance from the airport to the Ponte Vecchio is less than 7 kilometers as the crow flies, and you can get there by car in 20 minutes.
Not just functional
Still, there’s another reason why a vineyard was chosen for the roof: the looks. Flying in with a view of a gigantic vineyard was something the architects felt perfectly suited Florence’s image—a city where there is already so much beauty to feast your eyes on. And that was precisely the feeling they wanted to carry through to the airport.
It is still unknown which winemaker will take charge of the vineyard and what wine will be produced (Chianti?). And surely there will also be a beautiful wine bar in this same airport, serving only that wine? The aim is to complete the new airport in 2026.
An extra reason to visit Florence!
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Source: Food And Wine // Image: Rafael Viñoly Architects
