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.
Stendhal Was Right: Florence Can Still Make Your Head Spin
Santa Croce is more than one of Florence’s most famous squares. It is a neighbourhood shaped by artisans, independent businesses, overlooked museums and unexpected details. Follow our circular walk to discover what to eat, where to escape the queues and how to experience a more authentic side of Florence.
How to buy a real leather bag in Florence
Florence is one of the world’s great cities for leather—and one of the easiest places to buy the wrong bag. This guide explains how to look beyond vague “Made in Italy” claims and recognize authentic Made in Tuscany craftsmanship through materials, construction, origin, price, and transparency.
The Tuscan Edit by Florence Factory featured among the best Florence travel blogs
The Tuscan Edit by Florence Factory has been featured by Feedspot among the best Florence travel blogs to follow in 2026. For us, it is a small recognition of a different way of telling the city: through local artisans, independent shops, contemporary Tuscan craft and the living creative soul of Florence.
U.S. Customs Duties: Buying in Florence vs. Ordering Online
A clear guide for U.S. shoppers: customs duties on online orders from Italy, plus the $800 personal exemption for travelers buying in Florence.
From Guild to Hand: The Hidden Lineage of Florentine Craft
Florence’s guilds never really disappeared. Their symbols still mark the streets, and their spirit lives on in today’s artisans — working in small studios, choosing real materials, and making just enough.
How to Eat Like a Florentine (and When)
When (and Where) to Eat in Florence Like a Local. From cappuccino to Negroni, here's how to eat in Florence like a true local — hour by hour, with the best spots for coffee, gelato, lampredotto, and more.
Stranger Things in Florence: the "Upside Down" beneath the Renaissance
Meet the Florence "Upside Down": Dante as Mike, Michelangelo as Will, and the Pope as the ultimate Steve Harrington. Discover the mysterious world beneath the Renaissance streets.
The 5-minute guide to Tax-Free shopping in Florence: how to invest in craft, not paperwork
Turn taxes into extra treasures. From the new €70.01 threshold to seamless Global Blue refunds at Florence Airport, discover how savvy travelers invest in authentic Tuscan craft—minus the bureaucracy. Our 5-minute guide explains how to shop smart, ship with FedEx, and make the most of your time in Florence.
December in Florence: Christmas special — Markets, Kids’ Workshops and Festive Spirit
Experience Florence’s December magic — Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce, family workshops, festive music and artisan gift‑shopping at Florence Factory.
What to do in Florence in December: Contemporary Art, Photography and Music
Planning a December trip to Florence? Discover what to do in Florence in December — art and photography exhibitions, night-time concerts, indoor cultural ideas and where to shop for authentic artisan souvenirs near Santa Croce at Florence Factory.
The Case for Cultural Souvenirs: What to Bring Home from Florence (That Isn’t Junk)
Florence deserves better than fridge magnets and faux “truffle” sauces. This guide reframes the souvenir as culture you can carry: marbled paper, considered jewelry, small-batch leather, ceramics with a hand—and why our artisan-made bags aren’t online (they sell too fast). One address, many makers. Made in Florence, for real.
Florence deserves better than fridge magnets and faux “truffle” sauces. This guide reframes the souvenir as culture you can carry: marbled paper, considered jewelry, small-batch leather, ceramics with a hand—and why our artisan-made bags aren’t online (they sell too fast). One address, many makers. Made in Florence, for real.
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.
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.
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.
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.