I have hundreds of photos from our recent trip to Italy and I want to share them on our blog.
My second installment of photos is a set from our visit to two leather shops in the Santa Croce area.
Scuola del Cuoio
Piazza Santa Croce, 16 e Via San Giuseppe
(or you can also enter through the Santa Croce church)
After admiring Giotto's Early Renaissance frescoes inside the chapels of Chiesa di Santa Croce, it was time for some modern day leather appreciation at the Scuola del Cuoio! This was founded to teach orphans of World War II a type of craft that will earn them a living. They have a great website which you must visit to learn more about it and perhaps order from it. It's pretty high-end because pieces are one-of-a-kind and not mass-produced. The website link is:
http://www.scuoladelcuoio.com/scuola-del-cuoio-about-us.html
We met the amiable Signor Vito (right) who greeted us with interest! There were no visitors other than me and my daughter during that time so we actually received a first-class visit! He showed us around, talked about how the leather was crafted by artisans into wearable items and he allowed my daughter to try on an expensive leather jacket "just for fun"!
This hallway (left photo) displays the Scuola's leather purses and accessories that are practically works of art that you can wear. Various objects, from glass beads, gems, animal horns are sewn into the leather to embellish it.
 |
| Signor Vito assisted my daughter to try on this luxuriously soft lamb skin jacket. He picked this for her to coordinate with the leather boots Maddie was wearing. |
 |
| Inside courtyard of the Chiesa di Santa Croce. You exit the church by way of this courtyard. The Scuola di Cuoio can be accessed from the church (which charges a small fee of 5 Euro) or from Via San Giuseppe |
 |
| Gothic facade of Chiesa di Santa Croce across the Piazza |
|
|
|
Vivaldi Firenze
Piazza Santa Croce 13/R
Tel. 055/242935
http://www.vivaldifirenze.com
Another leather shop we visited at Piazza Santa Croce and got a leather tutorial from was Vivaldi Firenze. They were actually moving their shop to another location and had some items on sale.
Our hostess was so hospitable and very friendly. She showed us how raw leather hide that has been dyed is waxed and embellished with design using tools. Everything was made by hand. Each piece is uniquely made.
 |
This is an embellished leather-bound photo album. The design is created from a mold then waxed to make it shine and then colors are applied.
WATCH THIS VIDEO SHOWING THE ART AND CRAFT OF LEATHER DESIGN
http://www.scuoladelcuoio.com/scuola-del-cuoio-photo-video.html |
