The past month of traveling has finally caught up to me. I couldn't be any happier eating, exploring and traveling with good company, but I think my stomach needs a break. Really.
So while my tired feet wanted to rest, I ignored it's plea and we headed to the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence to check out the
Leather School (Scuola del Cuoio). Florence is known for it's leather, so I couldn't make a trip without a visit to the School or a leather tannery. A historical tidbit:
Established just after World War II by the friars of the monastery, the School was a means to give the orphans of war a practical trade to earn a
living.
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| leather handbag patterns |
At the Leather School, they sell handcrafted leather handbags and
leather goods, but I was more interested in seeing the Florentine
leather artisans at work. They also teach courses which I would have
loved to take,
if only I had more time in Florence.
If you arrive on a weekday, they will actually monogram your name into one of your leather purchases.
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| tools of the trade |
