I recall a photo of Madonna years ago in a sweatshirt that said “Italians Do It Better” and I could not agree with her more! I was recently flown to Florence, Italy to attend the annual Artisan Fair aptly named “Meet the Artisans” and was blown away by how creative and meticulous Italians are in everything they do. I have always loved visiting this amazing country but immersing myself in the creative culture for a few days gave me a new admiration for the people of Italy.
The fair was set up with multiple pavilions for all the different types of featured design work such as sculpting, leather works and of course my favorite pavilion of all: the food! We met a 22 year old cheese maker who manages his family farm and produces the most fabulous cheese, it was so unique and delicious we had to take some home. It’s a hard cheese, very pungent much like parmesan, a little stinkier but oh so delicious grated over some fresh pasta.
There were so many delectable items and if we were here longer we would’ve tasted a little bit of everything and certainly gone into a total food coma! All of this dried fruit dipped in chocolate was incredible and the best part is you don’t feel as much guilt for eating sweets since its mostly fruit. The one thing you cannot leave Italy without indulging in is truffle and we most definitely did! It’s one of our favorite flavors and fortunately there was loads of truffle items available: salt, chips, dips and we loved it all so much we took some of everything home with us!
I was blown away watching this particular sculptor, here he is at work carving alabaster. I had a moment to chat with him about his work, this man is a true artist and clearly loves what he does. It’s pretty incredible that he is able to turn a block of rock into something so soft and curvy. His beautiful sculptures are beloved in the region and have homes all over the Tuscan countryside.
Italians are known worldwide for their masterful leather work for a very good reason, my husband couldn’t resist picking up one these stunning handcrafted leather belts.
This wood carved bathroom vanity was a major standout (for obvious reasons) for me at this exhibition!
On our second day we were brought to the countryside to visit a small Tuscan village by the name of Scarperia. This charming little town is world renowned for its brilliant knife makers. This skill goes back many generations and we were able to experience the creation of a handmade knife done in the age old traditional method dating back to 15th century. Much like anything made in Italy the knives are not just ordinary knives they are sleek, sexy, gorgeously crafted knives and we greatly regret not purchasing any to bring home (honestly it seemed like the kind of thing that would be difficult to pass through homeland security with)
Walking around the city of Florence you can clearly see how inherent artistry is in Italian genetics. From the architecture of the buildings, the fashion, the wine and of course the pizza, there is a sense of pride in everything they do. It’s no wonder Italian design, of anything, is so highly revered.
I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Italy! I can never get enough of this gorgeous, delicious, vibrant country. For more photos and insight to my adventures visit my Instagram feed!
Ciao xoxo ~Zia
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Your photos are so fascinating dear! Love your outfits too, so chic, and sassy.
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Thank you Jessica! x ~Z