Florence Artisan Tour | Traditional local Artisan Experience

Private
2 hrs
Ponte Vecchio
Refundable booking

Meet the artisans of Florence on this alternative tour of the city.  Our local expert will take you to visit three workshops where you’ll discover the men and women keeping traditional century-old practices alive.

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  • Meet Florentine artisans
  • Watch a demonstration of traditional marbling techniques
  • Try your hand at decorating your own paper
  • Visit a family of leather workers
  • Discover the art of 'painting in stone'
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Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Your Florence Artisan Tour starts at the famous Ponte Vecchio, historic home to the city’s jewelers. Crossing the bridge, you’ll arrive in Oltrarno. This quieter part of Florence is known for its craftsmanship and laboratories, now fighting to survive as mass tourism makes it hard for traditional arts to compete with cheap souvenirs.

Hand decorated paper

The first stop on the tour is a famous paper workshop where they create beautifully marbled paper patterns. The art started with Florentine bookbinders in the 17th century.  Soon special patterns developed, like the peacock feather design that are still popular in Florence today. In the workshop, you’ll watch the artists create the patterns with traditional tools, then try your hand at marbling. While your unique paper design is drying, your tour will continue with a visit to family of Florence artisans.

Family-owned leather workshop

Florence is famous for the quality of its leather products and many people come here to visit the leather market. Oltrarno has been home to leather workers since the 14th century and although most producers have now moved out of the city, a few workshops have survived. You’ll visit a family-owned leather workshop where the mother designs and crafts purses by hand, the son produces luxury pet supplies, and the daughter makes unique, beaded jewellery and learn about their craft.

Florentine mosaic making

On the final stop on this tour, you’ll meet the artists of a mosaic laboratory. The art of mosaic was popular throughout the ancient Roman world, but Florence created its own version under the Medici, when the stoneworkers used pieces of different colored marbles to dramatic effect on the walls of buildings like the Medici Chapel. You’ll meet the craftspeople who carry on this tradition and watch them take rough pieces of stone and turn them into stunning works of art.
If you want to explore Oltrarno some more, your guide will give you some great suggestions for where to go and the best places to eat, but don’t forget to pick up your hand-decorated paper first!
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  • Paper marbling demonstration
  • Decorate your own paper
  • Meet a family of leather workers
  • Florentine Mosaic and Stone work Laboratory
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When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable.*Our Tuscan motorcycle tour and some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

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Make your day even more unique and comfortable by upgrading your tour with a customizable LivTours optional add on!

One Way Transfer Service
Get picked up from your centrally located Florence hotel by one of our luxury vehicles and brought directly to the meeting point of the tour. Guaranteed stress-free. One way only.
starting from 70 €
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By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.

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