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The first thing to touch (because this good-luck charm assures your return to
Firenze!) is the statue of a wild pig in the Fontana del Porcellino in
front of Mercato Nuovo (at the intersection of Porta Rossa and Via de' Calzaiuoli). Don't forget to throw a coin in the fountain while you're at it! The market is full of stands offering the wares of local artisans. Feel your way through the goods offered by the fine craftmen for whom the city has been famous for centuries.  Quality, hand-crafted goods have been produced here since the 1300's. Fine artisanry, fabrics, embroidery, mosaics, leather goods, objects made of marble and wrought iron...the list goes on. And today, as then, all your heart desires can be fashioned to order in the colors, shape and size you've got in mind. The finest of embroidered linens and silk undergarments brought Firenze fame. It's said that the Florentine noblewoman Caterina de' Medici, who became queen of France in 1533, introduced undergarments to the ladies of the French court who had not yet begun to wear them. For gerie and evening wear: Loretta Caponi (Piazza Antinori 4r): the shop is so, so nice it's worth a visit even if you don't plan to buy--it's an experience in itself! And then there's Cirri (Via Por Santa Maria 37r) or Ferrini (Via Calimala 5r); for hand-embroidered table linens and sheets, go to Taf (Via Por Santa Maria 22r). Hand-woven decorator fabrics, velvets and silks with a Renaissance touch can best be found at Lisio-art della seta (Via dei Fossi 45r). Cushions, fringe, arazzi, centri, table covers, all artisan crafted at the Passamaneria Toscana (Piazza San Lorenzo 12r). And famous since the 1300's are the city's goldsmiths (of whom Benvenuto Cellini was a grand representative) in addition to the famous Buccellati (in Via Tornabuoni 71r) and all the jewelers on the Ponte Vecchio. Don't forget Torrini (Piazza Duomo 10) for marvellous Renaissance and Etruscan-style creations in gold and silver; perfect imitations of real antique and modern pieces can be admired at the up-market costume jewelry shop Mariella Innocenti (Logge del Mercato Nuovo 3r) and at Cascio.(Via Por Santa Maria 1r). For silver, head for Brandimart (Via Bartolini18r) which also serves the royal families.  Another of the typical Florentine items antique origin is its characteristic paper from which frames, desk sets, agendas sets of tiny drawers are made. Also charteristic is the leather embellished with gold used for books, agendas and chests to be found in the more "historic" shops such as Giannini (Piazza de' Pitti 37r), Baccani (Via Porta Rossa 99) and Vannucchi (Via Condotta 26) as well as in any of the numerous. The antique Florentine art of mosaic can be found expressed as table tops, and tiny objects such as boxes, paperweights, jewellery at Mosaico di Pitti (tables at Piazza di Pitti 16-18r and gift items at Via Guicciardini 60r). Maioliche and ceramics in antique style turned by an artisan's hand are found at Manetti e Masini (Via Bronzino125), while marble sculptures, fountains and mantelpieces are a treat at Romanelli (lungarno Acciaioli 72/78r). Wrought iron and brass works are featured at the Emporio San Firenze (Piazza San Firenze 9r). |
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