Shops / Artisans to Visit in Florence, Italy

Shops / Artisans to Visit in Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy is the birthplace of the Renaissance and you don't have to even step foot in a museum to learn and discover the beauty of Florence's craftsmanship. If you are interested in art, in any way, there are a range of artisan shops to visit, where you can often see them in action, working on their craft, and support locals by buying souvenirs there.
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If you are interested in art, in any way, there are a range of artisan shops to visit, where you can often see them in action, working on their craft, and support locals by shopping for gifts there instead of at places like Zara. 

I Mosaici di Lastrucci
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Free to enter and visit, see the active workshop and museum of the incredible stone mosaics made by the Lastrucci brothers. The medieval building, where the workshop is situated in, dates back to 1335, where it was an old hospital, with an attached convent and church. In 1704 the church was rebuilt and decorated in frescoes, with help from the Medici. For several centuries housed the famous painting by Andrea del Sarto, which is now located in the Uffizi Gallery. All the mosaics are entirely produced according to the original techniques dating back to the 16th century. Every piece is cut by hand, with a simple saw made from a tree branch, bent in the form of a bow with an iron wire stretched from end to end and covered with water and emery powder; the pieces are then glued together with a mixture of virgin wax and pine resin.
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Scuola del Cuoio S.r.l.
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La Scuola del Cuoio (Leather school) is a great place to buy leather goods, or even just look around. It was founded after World War II, to help orphans of the war learn a practical trade to make a living, through the collaborative efforts of the Franciscan friars of the Monastery of Santa Croce and the Gori and Casini families, and Florentine leather artisans since the 1930’s. Their showroom is impressive and it feels like a museum within itself. You can also personalize and engrave your purchase, making the best souvenir or gift to bring home from your travels in Florence. ⚜️ If you’re interested in leather goods it doesn’t just stop with leather jackets, belts, bags, keychains, backpacks, you you name it.. but they also offer courses, workshops and technical visits if you’re interested in learning a little more about the process and history, from the artisans themselves. Even if you don’t buy anything, it makes for a great visit, especially after exploring the Basilica di Santa Croce, as it’s located right behind it.
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Studio Galleria Romanelli
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Cecilia Falciai Decorazioni Artistiche Scagliola e Mosaico
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Cecilia is specialized in the ancient scagliola and commesso fiorentino mosaic art techniques which feature precious stones and marble. She has many beautiful designs available for purchase, such as jewlery, small scale interior decor, to large tables and panels, and on a commission basis.
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Alessandro Dari Gioielli -- Museo Del Gioiello- Atelier e Scuola
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CLET Studio
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Art Gallery Studio Iguarnieri Florence
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Etra Galleria Tommasi
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Terra di Burchi
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Linfa - Jewelry Studio Gallery
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Marangio Illustrazioni Indipendenti
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MudMoiselle ceramica
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Veronica Balzani
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JHA Porcelain - Contemporary ceramics
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Leonardo da Vinci Art School
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They offer one day experiences for: - Drawing - Ancient Techniques (Egg Tempera and Gold leaf) - Fresco - Painting Techniques (Acrylic or Watercolor Painting) - Sculpture
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Sara Amrhein - Handcrafted Art Jewelry
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Ceramila_Lab
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Besides just a shop where you can buy ceramics, this lab also offers adult and children’s lessons, wheel workstation, and firing. Another option they offer is pottery lessons with wine tastings. https://www.ceramilalab.it/en/
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La Galleria Montelupo Ceramics
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ATELIERGK FIRENZE
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This is a 6th generation book binder leathersmith
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Old Silk Factory Fiorentino srl
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Giuliano Ricchi Jewelry
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Argentiere pagliai snc Firenze
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The 3 generation Pagliai family business has been the go-to silversmith for antique dealers, collectors and customers from all over Italy and abroad. You can easily reach the workshop-laboratory, located near the Ponte Vecchio, in the medieval part of Borgo San Jacopo. You can shop for in-house manufactured, Sheffield and antique silverware. The restoration of objects in antique silver or silver plate is in the safe, expert hands of Paolo Pagliai, who with meticulous craftsmanship creates missing pieces of sets by hand, reproduces cutlery that is no longer commercially available using the lost wax casting method and produces limited numbered series of objects, including jewelry.
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Paolo Carandini Atelier
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Paolo Carandini has been creating handmade parchment boxes for the past 30 years. Paolo’s boxes can also be ordered on commission.
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Artisan Perfumers 

Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
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The opening of the pharmacy to the public attached to the Dominican convent dates back to 1612, but it is from 1221 that the friars, just settled in Florence, began to study the properties of the herbs grown in the garden of the convent and to prepare medicines. It is of their herbs and their knowledge that Renè Le Florentin, perfumer to Catherine de' Medici, was used to create the Acqua della Regina, the fragrance that conquered the entire French court when Catherine went to Paris to marry Henry II of Valois. Medical remedies are no more, but the ancient fresh and citrusy bouquet, today Acqua di Santa Maria Novella, together with other perfumes, cosmetics, the iconic pot pourri in a silk bag and much more, have become world famous products
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Farmacia SS. Annunziata dal 1561 Firenze Italy
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Another ancient spice shop, renowned for the raw materials of excellent quality of products for the hygiene and aesthetics of the skin, created and recommended according to principles that take into account the seasonality, climate and psychophysical state of each individual customer.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ciao! My name is Danielle and I'm a Californian from San Diego, who's been living full time in Florence, Italy since 2020. I studied in Florence in 2016 and absolutely fell in love with the food, culture, and history, and made it my mission to move back. I moved right before the pandemic, and staying here through all the lockdowns and pandemic life really helped me discover slow travel and find all of Italy's beauty, including lesser known gems, and off the beaten path travel spots. During my three years in Florence, I have wrote for publications like The Florentine, done freelance marketing with restaurants and a travel agency, giving me high insight into the best destinations, foodie spots, and more. I am here to help you make the most of your vacation in Italy with curated itineraries for every type of traveler and digital maps to help you enjoy THE BEST food each region has to offer. Let me do the work so you can just relax and enjoy, without any stress! I've had a very unique experience living in Italy the last 4 years, as I made my official move right before the pandemic, after visiting for years. Because of this I learned to travel locally and deeply throughout the numerous incredible destinations in Italy and for that I cater my travel services to finding the most local and mindful experiences, keeping true to discovering and appreciating Italy's culture.
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