The Tuscan Edit
Stories, objects, and places that define the handmade soul of Tuscany.
Welcome to The Tuscan Edit — the journal of Florence Factory.
Here we share the beauty of Tuscany as told through its makers: handcrafted objects, artisan stories, curated travel tips, and everything we love about Florence and beyond.
If you’re looking for authentic inspiration and meaningful finds, this is where your journey begins.
Best time to visit Florence: weather, crowds, and climate curiosities
What’s the best time to visit Florence? It depends on what you want—sunny walks, quiet museums, festivals, or great deals. This guide breaks down the city by season with average temperatures, rainy months, and crowd levels, plus practical tips for booking Uffizi/Accademia, beating the heat, and packing smart. Think late April–June and late September–October for balance, July–August for peak heat and buzz, and January–February for art lovers who prefer no lines and lower prices. Plan smarter and enjoy Florence at its best.
Where to buy contemporary jewelry in Florence (Santa Croce)
Short trip, high standards? In Santa Croce, Florence Factory brings together 10–20 contemporary designers, all handmaking their work in Florence and Tuscany. Pieces are produced in very limited runs, with bespoke sizing and FedEx shipping when you need it. Sustainable by practice; wearable by design. Come try the collection, then have your size made and sent home.
Florence jewelry then and now
Florence’s jewelry heritage isn’t nostalgia—it’s method. Today, a new generation trained in the city’s design and goldsmith schools makes that method their own. At Florence Factory you’ll find 10–20 selected designers, all working by hand in Florence and Tuscany, producing in very limited runs. If your size isn’t on the tray, we’ll make it to order and ship it to you.
Florence to your suitcase: Tuscan gifts that travel well
Florence offers two kinds of souvenirs: the generic kind you’ll find anywhere, and the kind made here—by Tuscan artisans and designers. This guide sticks to the second: carry-on-friendly gifts with a real local signature. Think leather bags and sandals, quietly brilliant jewelry, hand-poured candles, ceramics and interior pieces, hats, eyewear, scarves and apparel—all made in Florence or Tuscany and curated by Florence Factory. Buy once, remember well, and ship with FedEx when your suitcase taps out.
How to Buy Authentic Florentine Crafts (Without the Guesswork)
Florence dazzles on the surface; the right object carries its depth home. This field guide helps you cut through market noise to find real Tuscan craft—materials that tell the truth, provenance before price, and details that age well. Plus, what to avoid (too-cheap street racks, copy-paste inventories, sellers who can’t explain the “how” and the “who”). Buy with clarity, not guesswork.
The Secret Grammar of Door Knockers: Reading Florence One Knock at a Time
In Florence, door knockers are more than hardware—they’re a grammar of thresholds. Lions, hands, grotesques and shields speak in bronze about status, hospitality and wit. Here’s how to read them, where to find the best examples, and why patina counts as authorship.
Tiny Doors, Big Stories: Florence’s Wine Windows and the Art of Civilized Thirst
Florence’s buchette del vino—wine windows—are Renaissance-era micro-doors where noble families once sold wine directly from their palazzi. Part architecture, part urban ritual, they’re a masterclass in discreet design and civic grace. Here’s how to find them, read them, and sip with style.
Schools of Craft and Design in Florence: Where Tradition, Innovation & Local Makers Meet
Florence is not just a city of museums but a living studio where craft traditions thrive. From jewelry workshops near Ponte Vecchio to leather schools in Santa Croce, from ceramics in Montelupo to fashion at Polimoda, artisans and students alike shape the city’s creative future. At FlorenceFactory, we collaborate with these makers—many of whom chose Florence as their home—to offer design that is both deeply rooted and refreshingly contemporary.
Vegetable-Tanned Leather Sandals: A Buying Guide
Vegetable-tanned leather isn’t a trend; it’s the Tuscan way to make sandals that breathe, soften, and age well. This guide strips away the jargon: what veg-tan is (and isn’t), how break-in really feels, how to nail sizing if you’re between widths, and the two-minute care routine that keeps straps supple. Read it before you buy; wear your sandals for more than one summer.
Think Florentine craft is just tradition? Think again
Florentine craft is pure innovation—BarbaVasi 3D-printed vases prove it. Discover how Florence Factory fuses Renaissance design with sustainable tech.
Tuscan unicorns: dishes you can only chase down in Florence
From lampredotto stalls to Renaissance offal chic: unlock Florence’s three most elusive dishes—plus the only cibreo recipe you’ll ever need
Where to Eat and Drink in Florence, with or without a Line. (Episode II)
Florence is delicious—but waiting in line isn't. Here's our stylish insider guide to where locals actually eat and drink, from rooftop bars to quiet cafés. Skip the queues and savor Florence like a true insider.
Florence, July 2025: a city turned up to eleven
Stone palazzi may simmer at noon, but July turns Florence into Europe’s chicest open-air salon. From MusArt’s cedar-shaded concerts to slam-dunks on Piazzale Michelangelo and gelato-stuffed sagre in the hills, here’s your smart, slightly ironic guide to sweating it out in style.
Florence Factory: one of the best shops in Florence according to the New York Times
Florence Factory has been named the best artisan shops in Florence by The New York Times. Step into a world where timeless Tuscan craft meets curated design, right in the heart of the city.
Best Terraces and Hidden Places to see Florence fireworks on June 24.
On June 24, Florence doesn’t just celebrate its patron saint—it puts on a show for the gods.
From Renaissance rooftops to hidden riverbanks, the city gathers to watch the sky explode in color during the Fochi di San Giovanni. But not all viewpoints are created equal. This guide curates the most spectacular (and sometimes secret) places to watch the fireworks—whether you’re sipping a cocktail on a luxury terrace, picnicking by the Arno, or lucky enough to know someone with a private roof and a decent bottle of Chianti. Because in Florence, even looking up is an art.
Queue or clue? A smart guide to eating and drinking well in Florence (where even locals gladly wait)
In Florence, even the queues tell a story.
Whether you’re chasing the city’s most legendary butter chicken or a panino that broke the internet, this guide reveals where it’s worth the wait—and where locals slip in without a line. A curated mix of hidden gems, heritage spots, and flavor-first haunts that prove one thing: in the right place, waiting is part of the magic.
Standing in Line in Florence: Museums Worth the Wait (and Those That Aren’t – June 2025)
Planning to visit Florence in June 2025? Here's our curated guide to the city's most iconic museums — from the ones worth standing in line for (yes, even under the sun) to the quiet gems where art meets serenity and no reservation is needed. Whether you're chasing Botticelli or just want to skip the crowds, Florence Factory helps you queue wisely.
Events in Florence – June 2025: Our Favorite Picks Beyond the Usual Itinerary
Discover the best events in Florence this June 2025: Pitti Uomo, dance, music, open-air cinema, markets & more. Curated by Florence Factory.
New-old vs. Historic: How to Spot the Real Icons of Florence
How to spot if a place in Florence is actually historic (and not just dressed like one)
In Florence, even the new shops come with cracked terracotta floors and sepia-toned signage. But while everything looks antique, only some places really carry the weight—and the wonder—of time.
This guide is for curious minds, sharp eyes, and anyone tired of tourist traps in period costume. From cafés to gelaterie, enoteche to nightclubs, we’ll show you how to spot the real heritage—where tradition hasn’t just been staged, but lived.
How to Recognize Handmade Ceramics (and Why You Should Care) *
A practical and poetic guide to recognizing real handmade ceramics—from base to glaze—and why choosing artisanal means choosing the future.