Artisan Workshops: Private Walking Tour in Florence

Marissa was knowledgeable & friendly. She went out of her way to give us the most from our experience. We visited 5 artisan workshops (leather; goldsmith/jewelry; paper marbleizing; printmaking & mosaics) adding in the mosaic stop so we could visit this unique workshop. This was a highlight of our time in Florence.

We just areivws in Florence and that evening my husband and I had a private walking tour with Marisa. She was absolutely amazing! She was a wealth of knowledge and kindness! Being with her on our first night of our first time in Italy was exactly what was needed to to launch a perfect holiday!

We love all types of art/artists and this tour seemed like it would allow us to learn more about them. It was amazing! Maria personalized our tour to include visits to studios/stores of jewelry making, Florentine paper design, leather, mosaics and added stops along the way (textiles, gold leaf painting, local craft show) as she got to know us. We truly enjoyed meeting so many artisans and learning about renaissance and contemporary techniques. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. this tour, it added a wonderful dimension to our trip to Florence!

If you really want to explore the true arts and artisans of Florence, this is an amazing tour that explores the various trades. Our tour guide took us to mosaic making, perfume shop, goldsmith, paper marbling, lithograph maker shops. We got to meet the owners and artisans, and learn about the process of their craft. There were also opportunities to purchase, but it was solely up to you, no pressure. Our guide, Maria, was absolutely great!!

The description of this tour was intriguing and it proved to be fascinating! Maria was our guide and we had her all to ourselves that afternoon. We started at the Florentine mosaic studio "Mosaici di Lastrucci" which blew us away. You think you are looking at a beautiful paintings but they are all made of stone. At all our stops we were introduced to the craftsmen and women and got to watch them at work. Next was a goldsmith's shop, then a shoemaker, then a leather maker. We had told Maria at the onset that we wanted her to show us some genuine Italian leather craftsmen as Florence has tons of leather goods - lots of them knockoffs. She came through in a big way and took us to two leather shops you must visit while in Florence - BENHEART and KATIAN. My daughter purchased her first leather jacket at Benheart. While waiting for them to add her initials on the sleeve of her jacket, who comes in but the designer himself! Then we went to Katian where I found my jacket and also met the designer!! Such a cool experience - we never would have found these shops without Maria. Our last stop was at a stationery store where we got to see how they make their own paper - A. Cozzi and do some shopping. I highly recommend this tour - just make sure you wear comfortable shoes as it is a lot of walking. Grazie Maria!

This was a unique opportunity to learn about the history of craftsmen in Florence and visit smaller artisans' workshops that otherwise would be impossible or at least, difficult to visit on one's own. I was impressed by the variety of types of art as well as the unique opportunities to speak with, tour the workshops of and see the processes of artisans, including many whose styles and techniques are unusual. A wonderful tour!

While we have enjoyed many tours over the years of all the wonderful galleries, museums and churches in Florence, we wanted something a bit different this time. We really enjoyed our afternoon walking tour of several local artisans/craftsmen in Florence. Maria was our guide and she did a great job of selecting an interesting and impressive group of shops to visit. We were able to spend time with the owners/craftsmen as they explained some of the pieces they were working on, whether it was an intricate mosaic, a gold necklace, or a beautiful leather purse. There was absolutely no pressure to purchase any of the items available at each of the shops, although we couldn't leave Florence or this tour without something to remember the wonderful afternoon.

Had a great time with Maria. She really knows Florence well and has a lot of knowledge about each of the artisans that she visits. She does a nice job of educating on the processes which helped us appreciate the work that we got to see. On our tour we visited a mosaic workshop, a real jeweler, a wood worker, and a print shop where they made decorated paper using an ancient transfer method. Only downside is that the tour is later in the afternoon and some shops were closed. I didn’t feel pressure to buy anything when we visited these places, but you can if you like. Bonus, Maria also helped us out with gifts. We wanted some authentic, Florence-made leather goods and she showed us where we could buy. A lot of walking if you have small children but I thought it was a great tour and highly recommend for someone who either wants to learn about craftsmanship or is looking to do some serious shopping for quality, one-of-a-kind items that cannot be found elsewhere.