Insights from historical analysis of heritage and art vandalism in Florence (1960-2024)

Vandalism targeting cultural heritage and works of art represents a major and persistent threat, yet it is difficult to measure and compare across time and space as records and datasets are often missing, fragmented or difficult to access. This paper investigates acts of vandalism in Florence from 1960 to 2024, distinguishing between indoor and outdoor settings. The methodology is original and rests on the systematic, replicable tracking down, collection, coding and analysis of journalistic material and unpublished archival sources, producing an event-level dataset. The longitudinal quantitative historical study shows a clear divide between indoor and outdoor contexts. Outdoors, patterns are consistent with mostly high-visibility acts, with an opportunistic component linked to the city’s rhythms and everyday practices. Indoors, incidents tend to be more contained and appear mainly as close-range actions directed at the artwork itself. Based on historical data, the article provides some insights into risk mitigation.