It has now become a twenty-year tradition, that of Handicraft and Palace in Florence, an innovative event that combines two strengths of the city: craftsmanship and art. It is in fact in 1994 that the idea of creating the event in the magnificent Corsini garden was born to promote that "handmade", which brings us closer to the taste for beauty and the discovery of quality details, but which is also part of the Tuscan tradition .
In fact, artisans of all kinds set up their stands in the Italian-style seventeenth-century park and demonstrate their skills, making their artifacts on site. In this way, visitors become spectators of arts with whom one is no longer in contact in everyday life, but who on occasions like this are enhanced by the enormous cultural heritage they bring with them.
The shops, recreated along the elegant avenues and the lemon house, have also hosted illustrious names of Made in Italy, such as Bulgari, Gucci and the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica of Santa Maria Novella. Also this year there are many big names: from clothing to jewelery, from typography to embroidery. The artisans come from all over the world, with particular attention to the Tuscan and Florentine reality.
This year's edition will take place from 15 to 18 May, from 10 to 21, entering from the entrance in via della Scala. The full ticket costs € 8, but there are many agreements to get the reduction to € 6. From 19pm onwards, admission will cost € 4 and it will be possible to have an aperitif with buffet right inside the Corsini Garden: a different concert is scheduled every evening.
Meetings, workshops and conferences on crafts will be organized every day, both in the garden and in the Loggia del Buontalenti. Consult the calendar on the site and you will see that the opportunities are so many: book presentations and concerts, manual workshops, games and activities for children.
Every day at 12, the appointment is with “Family recipes“: Four different appointments with presentations of culinary books, which will be attended by four writers and as many starred chefs. Always at 12 and in reply at 18, there will also be some guided tours at the Corsini Garden, organized by the Hidden City Association, a truly unmissable opportunity. At the end of the sixteenth century, Buontalenti designed this green space inside the Acciaiuoli residence, which has withstood the centuries and the passing of master.
You can participate in weaving workshops every day at 14pm or on Thursdays and Fridays at different times, there are also papier-mâché workshops. For children, appointments are concentrated on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. It seems to me that it will not be boring!
In fact, this year we will be there too, as part of the project Blogs & Craft, which wants to bring the world of craftsmanship closer to that of the web. 10 bloggers and 10 artisans under 35 were selected, who will participate in the exhibition giving their contribution in a different way: the first posting photos, articles and interviews live from the Corsini Garden and the second will participate in the event by showing and realizing their works .
At the end of the event, the best of the two categories will be awarded on Sunday evening, when the Perseo-Benvenuto Cellini award, assigned to the best exhibitor, voted by the public will also be awarded.
