Artisans of Florence

The Florentine tradition of producing artisanal goods has been in existence for centuries and remains one of the cornerstones of Florence's visual and social history. Florentine leatherworkers, silversmiths, shoe manufacturers and hat makers have produced handmade goods for countless generations of kings and queens, princes and noblewomen and continue to this day, mostly in the area known as the Oltrarno ("on the other side of the Arno"). This three-hour walk will explore the private workshops of this characteristic neighborhood, providing a behind the scenes look at the current state of artisan production.

Oltrarno neighborhood, various workshops and artisans.

We will begin in the lovely Piazza Santo Spirito and enjoy a stroll through the Oltrarno neighborhood, which has been home to artisans for the last five-hundred years. The group will have the opportunity to observe some of these craftsmen at work. We'll talk about Tuscan artisan traditions and the value and role of work and manufacturing in Italian culture.

A portion of the booking fee for this walk is donated to the Context Foundation for Sustainable Travel which, among other things, supports an apprenticeship program for the artisans of the Oltrarno who often have a difficult time attracting and retaining apprentices to carry on their work traditions.