Gold in Florence

 alt=

Gold and jewellery making made its way into the Florentine tradition relatively late in comparison with the other artisan traditions, but had a long-lasting effect on Florence. While goldsmiths were doing all right making garlands of gold wire and pearls for women's headdresses, it was Lorenzo the Magnificent, himself a fond collector of gold jewellery, particularly cammeos, who greatly influenced and created plentiful work for goldsmiths in the 1400s. The goldsmiths' studios originally took up much of Via Por Santa Maria before moving on to the Ponte Vecchio, and the quality of their work was strictly controlled by the guilds with rules such as artisans had to work in public view.

A goldsmith was the “jack of all trades” of his time, and they were not limited to just jewellery making, but also often made objects, sculptures, boxes, buttons and book covers. Sculptors, artists and architects often had their initial training in goldsmith studios – Brunelleschi, Donatello, Ghiberti, Botticelli and Verocchio (Leonardo da Vinci's master) are just a handful of the many who began as goldsmiths before creating the Renaissance's greatest buildings and most memorable sculptures and paintings.

In the next century, Benvenuto Cellini made goldsmithing an infamous profession, writing about the secrets of his profession in his controversial biography. Shortly after, in 1593 the Medici duke, Ferdinando I, decided to bring the goldsmiths and jewellers to the Ponte Vecchio (replacing the putrid butcher shops which has traditionally been there) and they have remained ever since. Throughout this period, gold ornaments and accessories were just as popular as they are today: buckles, brooches, hair pins, garlands, medals, cammeoes, were all common accessories.

Today, Italy is one of the top producers of fine gold jewellery in the world, with the majority of gold production concentrated in central and northern Italy. In Tuscany, the town of Arezzo is one of the world's most important centres of gold jewellery production, a tradition that dates back to the city's ancient Etruscan origins. Florence's goldsmithing tradition is still active, many of the shops themselves still producing in house their own designs. Just as goldsmiths in the Renaissance worked with an incredible dexterity and attention to detail, goldsmiths today take pride in their traditions, many of them still using traditional techniques and designs.

To see more, visit the Casa degli Orafi, a community of historic goldsmiths studios near the Ponte Vecchio, or see artisans at work such as the goldsmith family of Oro Due, Marco Baroni and the eccentric Alessandro Dari. The Ponte Vecchio is still a must for a gawk at the glittery and expensive gold shops, and of course, the picturesque and historic location.

Oro Due: Via Lambertesca, 12

Marco Baroni: Via dei Renai, 3

Alessandro Dari: Via San Niccolo, 115r

Ideas, inspiration and advice for your trip

Where You should travel next based on your like?

Florence
Florence
22 Tours
Rome
Rome
coming soon
Vatican
Vatican
coming soon
Venice
Venice
coming soon
What will be your next trip?

What will be your next trip?

When you’re trying to decide on a destination, you have a lot of things to consider. You want to find the best combination of affordability, activities, and comfort for your getaway, and that takes some doing. Find the best things to do wherever you’re going.
Discover our tours

Why book with Walkabout Tours?

Passionate Expert Guides

Excellent value for Money

Easy, Secure booking

24-hour free cancellation