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Venetian finest craftmanship
VENETIAN FINEST CRAFTMANSHIP
Bridges and canals, Renaissance palaces and contemporary art museums. Who can resist the Serenissima, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with its 1600 years of history? But Venice is not just about great art and beauty, as venturing into the maze of calli and campielli can also mean discovering the finest local craft masters.
They are glass masters, lace makers, bead-stringers and velvet weavers still using traditional wooden looms, as well as fashion designers and contemporary makers who create everything from jewellery to shoes, bags and hats, even clothing made from seaweed. They make unique handcrafted, artisanal products using their painstaking skills and knowledge.
Venice's artisans today work in much the same way as their predecessors centuries before, an exceptional craftmanship that is not found anywhere else in the world. Meeting the Venetian crafters, engaging first-hand with the process of turning high-quality materials into finely made goods, is one of the best experiences to enjoy in the City of Water.
Explore what makes Venetian way of life unique by leaving the beaten track behind to enter into the depths of the city.
ART GALLERIES AND ANTIQUE SHOPS, STROLLING FROM SAN MARCO TO CASTELLO
You can, for example, stroll around Campo Santo Stefano - in the San Marco district - in the area between Calle delle Botteghe and Campo San Samuele, overlooking the Grand Canal.
Here is a succession of art galleries, design ateliers, small artisan workshops and antique shops.
Alternatively, you can walk along Barbaria de le Tole to Campo Santa Maria Formosa, in the Castello district, and from here head towards the Arsenale crossing small squares and alleyways lined with small shops selling ceramics, goldsmith's art, masks and textiles.
UNDER THE RIALTO ARCADES, TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN
The ancient goldsmiths' street, under the Rialto arcades, today is one of the best places to shop in Venice.
We are in the San Polo district. Since March 23, 1331, the Serenissima had designated this as the city’s location for Venetian goldsmiths' workshops.
Today, the Sotoportego dei Oresi, at the foot of the Rialto Bridge, is a true district of high craftsmanship and contemporary design in Venice, including shops and ateliers for jewellery, artistic glass, fashion and furnishings.
HAUTE COUTURE, FROM ST. MARK SQUARE TO RIALTO BRIDGE
For lovers of haute couture, a stroll along Calle Vallaresso, Salizzada San Moisè and Calle Larga XXII Marzo, is an absolute must. Calle Vallaresso is a renowned luxury shopping destination: it is home to the boutiques of the most famous Italian and other international brands, as well as designer shops, where you can purchase the most fashionable garments from the world’s leading fashion houses and the most sought-after pieces of craftsmanship. Calle Larga XXII Marzo is characterised by haute couture boutiques, from handbags to clothes and leather goods, but also by shops selling handmade local products such as glass beads, Murano glassware and textiles. Also not to be missed are the luxurious shop windows along the Mercerie, a dense network of calli connecting St. Mark's Square to Rialto.
AT THE ARSENALE, THE FINEST CRAFTSMANSHIP FAIR
The Salone dell'Alto Artigianato Italiano is a unique event celebrating Italian art and craftsmanship in the heart of the lagoon.
The first edition was held from 28 September to 1 October 2023 inside the Arsenale, a prestigious location, ideal setting for the works of art exhibited by master craftsmen from all over Italy.
During the Exhibition visitors can discover the best of Italian savoir-faire, from ceramics to fine fabrics, from blown glass works to precious stones, from jewellery to furniture, to name but a few.
Photo credits:
1. Burano lace Sandra Mavaracchio ph. Laura Scarpa - Veneziadavivere
2. Aventurina Design ph. CNA Confederazione Nazionale per l'Artigianato di Venezia
3. Cloth decoration Hélène Kuhn Ferruzzi ph. CNA Confederazione Nazionale per l'Artigianato di Venezia
4. Murano Glass Marco & Mattia Salvadore ph. Settimo Cannatella
