Back to City guide Florence
FLORENCE SHOPPING GUIDE:
MARKETS, LEATHER,
CRAFTS, FOOD...
These Florence shopping tips for Florence Markets, Leather, Crafts and Food (by
Jenifer Howard Forneris and Cristina Jacomelli) are a wonderful start to discovering
the city of Florence.
»
Florence Markets
»
Florence Leather
»
Florentine Crafts
»
Food Shopping
Florentine Crafts: Objects
One of the most characteristic (it looks like time never went on) and lively
areas in Florence is Santo Spirito, the distric on the Oltrarno (the other side
of the Arno), where artisan workshops vary from wood, to jewels (traditional and
modern, avant-garde), lamps, metals, various types of accessories, antiques and
restoration. Another is San Frediano with its upholstery, silver and glass ware,
among many others.
Walking through the streets of Santo Spirito and San Frediano is a real experience
in the heart of the city's history and traditions.
Florence Craft Shop: Poli
Type: colorificio
Address: Via Guelfa, 49r; 055-216506
Note: for artists and artisans and for those who love colours and design; here are
pigments, chemical products and all types of colours for restoration, ceramics
and interior decoration of the most varied and exclusive types.
Florence Craft Shop: Pietra di Luna (Bianco Bianchi)
Type: scagliola objects, also custom-made.
Address: Via Maggio, 4r; 055-2658257.
Note: scagliola was born in the XVI century to take the place of the more expensive pietre dure
and marble works; it is made of a mixture of animal glues and colour powders;
the mix fills the designs carved in marble slabs or other stone plates; the entire
slab or plate is then polished and waxed and the final work is obtained giving
the impression that the colourful designs are pietre dure or of other effects
(depending on the designs made) such as marbling. The Bianchi scagliola is renowned
all over the world because they respect the original traditions of scagliola making,
all is done by hand and the works are therefore quite expensive. Important world
personalities are their customers.
Florence Craft Shop: Puliti
Type: watch restoration.
Address: Piazza Santa Elisabetta, 6; 055-2302528.
Note: this is a small, exquisite shop, the most ancient of its kind in Florence.
Florentine Crafts: Food
Florence Shop: Civaie Mechini
Type: seeds and grains; food for animals the traditional way
Address: Via della Spada, 52r; 055-2396651.
Note: this shop is more than a century old; they prepare all types of seed mixes and
have precious grains as Garfagnana spelt, special beans from other regions of
Italy and Amiata mushrooms, among many other varieties.
Disclaimer: this information is provided for Casa Howard guests use only. All content on
this website is owned by New Guests Limited and falls under copyright laws.
Facebook
