Artisans of Florence
A tour in the ancient quarters of Florence. A town in the past based on the artisan work and their laboratories.
We guide you to discover this ancient and hidden treasure, Florence artisans at work practicing ancient techniques in gold, silver, paper, and wood.
The program:
- 10:00 am – You meet your guide at your hotel reception in Florence.
- 10:15 am - Walking along the narrow streets of the Santa Croce neighborhood, you reach the first workshop. While walking, the guide will describe the characteristics of Florentine neighborhoods, focusing on the history of the local arts and crafts. Since the year 1000, the local economy in Florence was supported by the artisans' activity.
- 10:30 am - Once in the first workshop, you attend a demonstration on how to create marbled papers.
- 11:30 am - Walking towards the second workshop (varying between ancient book binding and restoration, ceramics, wood carving or textile restoration) and demonstration in the laboratory.
- 12:45 pm - Walking towards Restaurant Gastone and lunch with Tuscan specialties and wines. After lunch, you are escorted in the Ponte Vecchio area ("Old Bridge").
- 2:30 pm - Visit the jeweler production workshop, located close the old Roman Gate. The three young and enthusiastic artisans will show the complete working process, explaining the different techniques used to smelt, weld, and encase.
- 3:45 pm Return back to your hotel and end of the excursion
On request this tour can be combined with the Choccolate Artisan Tour: you can substitute one craft workshop with a chocolate laboratory, or vice versa you can substitute one chocolate demonstration and tasting with a laboratory of the artisan tour.
The price of the program includes: an expert guide in English language, guided visit to three workshops and a Tuscan lunch with wine.
