TOUR OF THE ARTISANS OF FLORENCE: THE TRADITIONAL FLORENTINE CRAFTS
With the Tour of the Artisans of Florence we will visit some artisanal workshops, discovering the real character of the city through its expert craftsmen. They have been passing on their knowledge from generation to generation. We alla also visit Orsanmichele, the Guilds’ church. The Corporazioni di Arti e Mestieri (Craft Guilds) supported the extraordinary economic, artistic and political development that Florence has experienced since the XIII century. They were active financiers of many works of art, often in competition with the ecclesiastical world. They contributed intensely to the artistic and cultural development known as Renaissance and Humanism. In an age where there was no clear distinction between artists and artisans, the craftsmen’s workshops of Florence (botteghe) became real art schools. Beside the historical part…no it’s time to have your marble paper experience in Florence! Put your apron on, roll your sleeves and make your own marble paper at a local workshop.
ORSANMICHELE: THE CHURCH OF THE FLORENTINE GUILDS IN THE MIDDLE AGES
The Tour of the Artisans of Florence consists of a more historical part. We will actually start from the visit of the church and museum of Orsanmichele, ancient place of worship under the tutelage and sponsorship of the Florentine guilds in Medieval time. It was originally the granary of Florence. It was later converted into a church under the patronage of the Florentine Guilds. They were also in charge of the maintenance costs and donated the statues of their patron saint. These statues are now located in the external niches (copies, the originals are inside the museum. The Guilds commissioned the statues to famous artists, such as Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi and Giambologna.
JEWELERS, BOOK BINDERS, LEATHER ARTISANS
There’s something magic in seeing a goldsmith hammering the silver rings one by one to weld them in a magnificent necklace. He’s proud to remark the the Etruscans were the first inhabitants of Tuscany, centuries before the Romans. This is the pride of the Florentine to talk, not only of the goldsmith! The Etruscans were the first ones to use this system to make their jewels and it never changed. We will visit the workshop of a book binder, where they master the technique of marble paper! Here, thanks the marble paper workshop, you will be taught all the secrets to make the famous peacock tail design. It will be lot of fun, for children and adults. Then we will go to a local Florentine mosaic studio, called commesso fiorentino. You will be amazed by the art behind this! These masters, with their humanity and humility, remind me always the value of time and passion, that we take many time for granted today.