Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Oltrarno neighborhood
- Piazza Santo Spirito
- Artisan Workshops
Photos & Highlights
- Private access to a variety of craft workshops in the Oltrarno neighborhood which has produced quality goods for countless generations
- Led by a Florence expert
Select a date
Tour Description
The Florentine tradition of producing artisanal goods has existed for centuries and remains a cornerstone of Florence's visual and social history. This 3-hour Florence Artisan Workshop Tour explores primarily the Oltrarno neighborhood (“on the other side of the Arno”), renowned for producing exquisite goods for generations of royalty and nobility. You will visit a curated selection of private workshops where master artisans continue to practice their crafts using methods passed down through the ages.
Experts
Your walk will begin in the charming Piazza Santo Spirito and weave through the Oltrarno neighborhood, known as the heart of Florence’s artisan community for over five hundred years. This area, alongside parts of the historic center, is home to master leatherworkers, silversmiths, shoemakers, and milliners who create some of the finest handcrafted goods in the world.
The neighborhood is a maze of tiny streets and small local workshops, representing some of the most historic enterprises in the city. You will have the opportunity to see some of these craftsmen at work, ask them some questions, and observe their meticulous practices and the tools of their work.
In the company of your expert guide, you’ll gain insight into the historical and cultural importance of these crafts. You’ll also learn about their role in Florence’s identity and how they reflect the Tuscan values of sustainability, quality, and tradition.
This walk invites you to discover the “real Florence” by engaging with its living traditions, not just following the tourist trail. It emphasizes supporting local artisans whose crafts are at risk of disappearing while celebrating the best of Florence’s craftsmanship. Visits to workshops are intended to be respectful and enriching, not just shopping stops—though purchases are welcomed as a sign of politeness and appreciation.
By visiting these workshops, you contribute to preserving Florence’s cultural heritage for future generations.
- You want the opportunity to engage with master artisans and learn about their craft and techniques
- You’re eager to explore a side of Florence that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions
- You want more than a shopping tour, you are interested in the historical and cultural contexts that shaped these crafts
- Oltrarno neighborhood
- Piazza Santo Spirito
- Artisan Workshops
Transportation
Where does it start? Where does it end?
The Florence Artisan Tour begins near Piazza Santo Spirito and ends in the Oltrarno neighborhood.
How will we get around the area? Will a car be provided?
This is a walking tour only. The Oltrarno neighborhood is compact, and all the shops are within close proximity, making walking the ideal way to explore.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
- For more information on planning your travels to Florence, take a read through our Context Stories.
- If you are looking to learn more about Florence prior to a visit, check out our online lectures.
What kinds of activities and shops will we visit on the tour?
You’ll visit a curated selection of artisan workshops to explore Florence’s rich craft traditions. Each walk is unique and tailored by the guide based on workshop availability and schedules.
You’ll visit a curated selection of artisan workshops to explore Florence’s rich craft traditions. Each walk is unique and tailored by the guide based on workshop availability and schedules.
Why is this tour not available in August?
Most studios close during August as artisans typically take their annual break.
Most studios close during August as artisans typically take their annual break.
Are we allowed to make purchases at the workshops?
While this walk is not a shopping tour, you are welcome to make purchases at the workshops. We encourage this as a gesture of appreciation for the artisans’ time and effort. Simply let your guide know, and they will incorporate it into the schedule.
While this walk is not a shopping tour, you are welcome to make purchases at the workshops. We encourage this as a gesture of appreciation for the artisans’ time and effort. Simply let your guide know, and they will incorporate it into the schedule.
Can we visit a specific shop we are interested in?
We will be happy to share your interest with your guide, and they will do their best to include it in your visit. However, we kindly ask for your understanding that not all types of crafts are available in Florence, and visiting specific workshops depends on the artisans themselves. Many workshops welcome visitors as a personal favor because they have established relationships with our guides, but these arrangements can occasionally change without notice, even at the last moment. If this happens, your guide will adjust plans as needed and do their utmost to ensure you still have a memorable experience by introducing you to other exceptional shops or artisans. Thank you for your flexibility and appreciation of the unique nature of Florence’s artisan culture
We will be happy to share your interest with your guide, and they will do their best to include it in your visit. However, we kindly ask for your understanding that not all types of crafts are available in Florence, and visiting specific workshops depends on the artisans themselves. Many workshops welcome visitors as a personal favor because they have established relationships with our guides, but these arrangements can occasionally change without notice, even at the last moment. If this happens, your guide will adjust plans as needed and do their utmost to ensure you still have a memorable experience by introducing you to other exceptional shops or artisans. Thank you for your flexibility and appreciation of the unique nature of Florence’s artisan culture
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
This walk involves a fair amount of walking, and there are limited public bathroom facilities along the way. Some workshops may have steps or uneven entrances, and not all are wheelchair-accessible.
If you need breaks or have specific mobility concerns, please let your guide know, and they will do their best to accommodate you. For guests with significant mobility limitations, we recommend contacting our team in advance to discuss your needs.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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238 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Being a craftsperson (ceramic) and retired public school art teacher I had the time of my life. The artisans were some of the finest I have ever seen and their work was beautiful. We were in awe during the entire tour and greatly appreciated the look at the artist/craftsman experience in Italy. Luca was the best! So knowledgeable and a wonderful translator (just to watch him in action was special). His rapport with us and the artisans was unforgettable. We are grateful he shared his wealth of knowledge with us.
The only thing I might suggest is that retired, American legs have a tough time of adjusting to the walking surface in Florence and a short five minute sit-down break between artist studios would have helped with the physical toll at the end of the day (but it was our longest day of sight-seeing.) Thank you for the experience!
Terry
Reviewed on:
Oct 21, 2011
I think the time could have been divided up better. We spent a long time at the first shop and less time at the second two, which was ok but maybe it also felt like we were less attentive to what the second two had to offer because we were all pretty fatigued. It could have helped to break up the three pieces with some other light-hearted, but relevant discussion while walking through the neighborhood.
Luca is a good guy. Knowledgeable, very sincere, and you can tell that he's in this for the right reasons - he's generous with his time and it feels as though he wants to spread what he's passionate about to you. All of this is essential for someone in his position. He isn't the most receptive person when it comes to others though - in the sense that he doesn't connect to people as much as some guides can. He is a good speaker and good at explaining but some people are artists in that they know how to read you and know how to deliver their information in a way that is more personal and anecdotal and entertaining.
Steven
Reviewed on:
Oct 14, 2011
Luca obviously knows the fine arts scene in Florence, and he has a passion for the Oltrarno. He is also very good at explaining the processes that each artisan goes through.. All the while we were watching a silversmith making pitchers, a metalworker pressing out decorative balls, and an etcher carving an image, Luca was explaining every step.
Emilie
Reviewed on:
Sep 21, 2011
