A long, rainy weekend did not deter exhibitors and the public at the 16th edition of ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO.
More than 5,500 visitors flocked to the flower-lined avenues of the Giardino Corsini, enchanted and admiring the live demonstrations of the workshop masters who indulged in forging wrought iron, working with leather and ceramics, grinding glass and embossing silver, carving wood, gilding frames and sculptures…

ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO is confirmed as the not-to-be-missed event with an ever-changing selection of over 80 Italian and foreign craftsmen presenting their creations of handmade hats, shoes, clothes, bags and textiles, the wonderful fragrances of master perfumers and much more.
The haute cuisine tasting areas with Sicilian and Tuscan specialities and homemade ice cream and the home-made restaurant ‘Sotto i tigli’ (Under the Lime Trees) were very popular.

On Sunday evening, at the end of the event and after the concert by the Quartetto Indaco, under the Loggia del Buontalenti, the two craftswomen most voted for and appreciated by the public – Ilaria Innocenti and Arduina Fiaschi – were awarded the PERSEO PRIZE by the area head of the Banca CR Firenze. The two award-winning craftswomen are creators of hats made according to the Signa straw tradition, using ancient techniques and tools but with innovative models and designs. The winners also received a commemorative plaque from LA NAZIONE delivered by the newspaper’s deputy editor.

Great success for the ‘Artigiani in Famiglia a Palazzo’ initiative, where more than 250 children took part in the special workshops dedicated to them organised by the Horne Museum and OmA – Osservatorio dei Mestieri d’arte, where they were able to try out – assisted by master craftsmen and specialised personnel – some special techniques: from gilding to goldsmithing; from silver embossing to engraving.

Special thanks to Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and OMA, the Florence Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Department and Fashion Department of the Municipality of Florence, Nova Arti Grafiche, Agenzia Fondiaria – Sai Lucherini, Casati, Verdiani, AIRC Firenze, www.luisaviaroma.com, Firenze Parcheggi, Convivium Firenze, Caffè Florian and Giuseppe Rosini.
My heartfelt thanks to the members of the Promoting Committee and all the staff: Caterina Romig Ciccarelli and Lorenza Ghiandai, Ester Di Leo, Lory Bruni, Giovanni and Alfonsina Viscusi, Romeo Menci, Paolo Chiesi and all the gardeners.