The original idea was conceived by the proposed Giuseppe Massai, but it was above all thanks to the bequest of Eugenio Ciapetti that the construction of the Nursing Home “EMD Ciapetti” began in 1906. This year, the nursing home celebrates its 120th anniversary with a meeting dedicated to “care for the vulnerable”, in line with the solidarity goals of the statute and the noble goal of its benefactor. The anniversary celebration will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026 (9:30 a.m.) in the Church of San Francesco, with the participation of numerous authorities and testimonies brought by representatives of voluntary organizations and associations who are making their commitment to the benefit of the Castelfiorentino community.
After greetings and an introduction by the president, Monsignor Alessandro Lombardi (Provicar General of the Archdiocese of Florence), Stefania Saccardi (President of the Tuscany Region Council) will speak on the topic “A Region that takes care..”, Franco Doni (Director of SDS Empolese Valdarno Valdelsa) on “Territory and personal services”, Francesca Giannì (Mayor of Castelfiorentino) on “The responsibility of leading a Municipality that becomes a Community”, and Sister Leena Vadackakathu (Franciscan Hospital Oblate Sisters) on “A life dedicated to care”. Following, the testimonies of Don Leonardo Tarchi (Proposal of Santa Verdiana), Don Lorenzo Mancini (Parish Priest of Santa Maria della Marca), Paolo Regini (President of the Cambiano SCPA Agency), Andrea Strambi (Governor of Misericordia Castelfiorentino), Carla Dai Zotti Monsacchi (President of AVO), Gabriella Cantini (President of Auser), and finally André Casaca and Flavia Marco (Teatro C’Art) who are carrying out the project “A beautiful visit” at the Nursing Homes. Alessandro Martini (councilor “EMD Ciapetti”) will moderate the proceedings, while the conclusions will be entrusted to the President of the EMD Ciapetti Foundation, Monsignor Alessandro Lombardi.
At the end of the morning (around 12:00 a.m.), a tree will be planted in front of the building, followed by the inauguration of the new kitchen. As you may remember, the retirement home, now the EMD Ciapetti Foundation, takes its name not only from Eugenio Ciapetti, but also from his wife Maria and his son Domenico, who passed away at a young age.
“The beauty of this event lies in the fact – says Msgr. Alessandro Lombardi, Provicar General of the Archdiocese of Florence and President of the EMD Ciapetti Foundation-who, despite such an important anniversary, does not intend to make it a self-celebration. When 120 years ago the Massai Proposal gathered the best forces in the country because it was unthinkable to him that one could die of loneliness within the living fabric of a community and therefore he believed it necessary to take action with creative generosity in answering a question, in solving a problem, I am sure that his concern was not to generate such a lasting work but to ensure a prompt action of exquisitely evangelical loving so as not to be of those who say but do not do, who see and pretend not to see, who know of a need and think that it will be the task of others to take it upon themselves. Celebrating 120 years later “the strength of a community in caring for the most vulnerable” today asks us to open our eyes to be prophetic in our choices and innovative in our solutions. Then something was done that wasn’t there, today – as we cherish what we have received – we question whether we are not asked for anything else and otherwise. A work more than a hundred years old does not authorize us to drink from it while sitting comfortably on the shoulders of those who came before us and who made the necessary choices and efforts, even at risk. It’s a goad: how here and today are we asked not to overlook the silent cries for help that risk going unheard? Meanwhile, we do not tire of loving and serving those who come to our facilities seeking care and home, affection and understanding. Today as yesterday: so that no one is left alone”.
“Reflecting and discussing, today, what we can do as institutions to care for vulnerable people – underlines the Mayor, Francesca Giannì – represents one of the priorities of my mandate, in which solidarity and civic commitment find a virtuous synthesis in the daily action carried out by many voluntary associations, and not only, of Castelfiorentino, which as a Municipality we are committed to supporting using all the tools we have available to benefit the weakest population groups. Celebrating the 120th anniversary of this structure, therefore, far from falling into commemorative rhetoric, is for me and the City Council an important opportunity for verification, from which to start again with greater determination to implement, in collaboration with the Health Society that I have the honor of presiding over, the Tuscany Region, the individuals and entities of our territory, all the interventions we need so that no one feels abandoned”.
“The 120 years of the Ciapetti Nursing Home,” said President Saccardi, “tell the story of a community that has transformed solidarity into a concrete and lasting responsibility. Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, its founders understood that a society is truly civilized when it leaves no one behind and recognizes dignity and attention to the most fragile people. Today, as then, caring for the elderly means combining professionalism, humanity, and closeness, placing the person and their story at the center. In an aging society, it is essential to strengthen collaboration between institutions, health and social health services, families, and local communities, because care cannot be left solely to the goodwill of individuals. The Ciapetti Nursing Home represents an important point of reference for Castelfiorentino and the entire area. To those who, over these 120 years, have helped build and keep this reality alive, and to those who continue to do so every day with commitment and dedication, my thanks go. His story reminds us that the strength of a community is also measured by the ability to care for the most vulnerable and ensure that no one feels alone in times of greatest need”.
