Arts and crafts Italy

This artisan bottegacreates exceptional paper products and restores old books. They produce stationery products such as notebooks, directories, albums and small cards, all of which can be personalized, as well as beautiful scarves and ties, made using the marmorizzazione technique (marbled paper). Each piece made by this team of outstanding craftsmen is like a work of art.

Founded in 1956, the production of this workshop was distinguished rapidly for the artistic quality of the master's creations. Very quickly, the creations of the Zanetti took place among the names of the greatest maîtres of the island. In 1959, the Maestro Zanetti transmitted the case to his son. From his father, in addition to the shop and workshop, Licio inherited artistic talent. His father also taught him the old techniques of glass work, and the news, which he himself invented by working in his oven. The favourite of the son for naturalist subjects is reflected in the collections, inspired by the fauna and flora of his beloved lagoon. All glass objects are handmade, respecting the glass tradition of the island of Murano.

Since 1985, IVAT (Valle d'Aosta Institute of Handicrafts and Traditions) has been the institution that keeps alive the centuries-old culture of regional craftsmanship in all its forms. Its objective is to enhance and protect this sector. To this end, the Institute runs several shops where it is possible to discover the rich local production (cutlery, grolle or friendship cups, shoes, clothes, sculptures, fabrics, wrought iron, leather, etc.), including the one in Piazza Chanoux d'Aosta, a historical shop of craftsmanship for centuries.

In the Stinga family, the craft of marquetry has been passed down for several generations. The workshop is now run by Roberto and Franco, who perpetuate this know-how rooted in Sorrento tradition. In their shop, boxes (depending on the style, between 35 and 280 €), paintings, furniture and various wooden objects are offered for sale. The workshop is located in via degli Aranci 102 and can be visited on request. All the pieces are finely crafted and, as in the days of the grand tour, are typical souvenirs of the city.

Les Saveurs de Positano is a pretty store just like the items it offers. The saleswomen are welcoming and make very nice gift packages. It must be said that the address is made to offer a souvenir of Positano and the Amalfi Coast, first ceramics, then limoncello, in decorative bottles. The painted tableware recalls the Mediterranean colors in pleasant sets. Perfumes and scented candles can also become gifts with exotic scents. So many choices to bring back a souvenir.

The yellow of Naples(giallo di Napoli) is a bright and luminous yellow, the embodiment of the city and the emblematic colour of the South. It is a perfect name for this Neapolitan company that specialises in floor coverings made of noble materials, but also in ceramics. The colourful productions, open to all influences, are varied and appeal to the greatest number. From the fun and design cows to the tables that some Italian lawyers in Paris order directly from him, everything is of exceptional quality and know-how.

The shop was born in 1996 from an idea of the Scuotto brothers, Salvatore and Raffaele, determined to bring the Neapolitan figurine into modernity. All the sculptures are unique collector's items. Noted for the excellence of their work, the Scuotto brothers had the honour of being chosen by the King of Spain to create the pieces for his crib. Of course, excellence comes at a price, but for those who cannot afford it, postcards are on sale (starting at 80 cents) and it's always worth a look.

This address near Piazza Tasso has been open since 1863. The large, slightly retro shop offers many typical local handicrafts: wooden furniture, marquetry, household linen, porcelain and ceramics. "99% of our products are made in the Sorrento area. We have a small factory outside the city, everything is handmade," says Peppino Jannuzzi, the current owner of this family business. Several celebrities have stopped here. The price of this success: the prices can be high.

This is a good plan, in addition to the shop that sells all kinds of handicrafts of the region: ceramics, wine, perfume, limoncello. On the first floor, the grocery store allows those who wish to eat at very good prices. The paninis with local products are made in front of your eyes by Emilia Cinque who loves to practice her French. She's naturally kind, and her little takeaways are a great way to save on an often expensive meal by the sea. The best takeaway address in town.

Mr. Gennaro Tavassi is one of the best craftsmen of the island, still working traditionally in the art of ceramics. Trained by the potter, painter and sculptor Sergio Rubino, whose reputation is well known, he follows his path. This craftsman, inspired by the island of Capri, its bright colours and dazzling light, offers varied, refined and meticulous creations, populated with marine creatures and hand-painted Mediterranean symbols.

Stefano and Daniele Attombri create unusual jewellery, pieces made in limited numbers, or even unique pieces, from antique Murano glass beads. The creators find their source of inspiration in the canvases representing the Rococo whims of the ladies, in the ancient splendour of Venice, in its palaces of neo-Gothic grace. The house also offers decorative objects for the home, candleholders and lamps. Dolce & Gabbana and Romeo Gigl are among the houses that have associated their names with the two brothers' creations.

Glass embroidered with the precision of a goldsmith, without doubt one of the most finely drawn and blown in the lagoon. Cesare Toffolo, a famous master glassmaker, reveals his skills here. He uses the technique of soffiatura a lume (modeling by flame with a small gas canister) which, according to him, guarantees a particularly meticulous work. The use of gold leaf for the decorative aspect would be the other ingredient that makes his pieces unique. Cesare's store is a narrow showroom full of wonders.

This large shop, with its annexed workshop, welcomes craftsmen who seek to reinterpret the mask within the framework of traditional craftsmanship. The creation workshop being inside the shop, you will be able to observe directly how a mask is made, from A to Z: the choice of the shape, the pose of the colours. The owners explain to whoever wants to know the origin of the masks, the main characters of the Commedia dell'Arte, the colour code... If you are interested in little stories about masks, this is the place to go.

Between Campo Sant'Angelo and Campo Santo Stefano, this boutique is one of the best known in Venice for ceramic objects.

The most beautiful handicraft shop with a sober touch of modernity. Lighting puts the products in an elegant way. Rigoletto owes his name to Verdi's eponymous opera. A wise choice because Rigoletto is located on the square of L'Aquila. The idea of the shop is definitely the creation of complementary flavours.

In the Cognein hamlet of Saint-Pierre, this hardware store specializes in the production of wooden crafts. Its signature is, of course, the famous grolla: a kind of wine flute in precious wood, with lid, supported by a short stem set on a broad base. Lower, more rustic and rounder, another version is called the friendship cup. It is passed around during festivities, filled with a traditional mixture of brandy, coffee, sugar, genepi and orange peel.