Credit: Museo Rossimoda della calzatura
The history of leather in Italy is often a story of families: tied to a territory, to specific processes, to gestures passed down from generation to generation. It is the union of these artisanal skills that has led Italian leather to become an excellence recognized throughout the world. But this story is not always told in large museums. Sometimes it lives in more discreet places, deeply linked to the memory and identity of the territories. Here are three that are perhaps less known, but that preserve the authentic soul of Made in Italy leather.
1. ROSSIMODA FOOTWEAR MUSEUM
STRA, VENICE
Located in Villa Foscarini Rossi, along the Riviera del Brenta, this museum exhibits approximately 1350 models produced by Rossimoda, one of the artisan companies that has marked the history of footwear in Italy and around the world. The collection traces the evolution of women's shoes from 1947 to today, through the collaborations that Rossimoda has established with some of the most prestigious fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Givenchy.
2. SCHOOL OF LEATHER
FLORENCE
Even before being a museum, the School of Leather is a living laboratory, where leather is worked every day. Founded in the post-war period to offer a trade to young orphans, today it is a centre of excellence for leather craftsmanship within the monumental complex of Santa Croce. During the guided technical tours, it is possible to immerse yourself in the history of the School, discover the leather working processes up close and watch practical demonstrations that reveal the secrets of an ancient craft.
3. MUSEUM OF TANNING
BOSA, ORISTANO
The left bank of the Temo river reflects the ranks of the ancient tanneries of Bosa, declared a National Monument of Industrial Archaeology. One of these buildings houses the Museum, which preserves machinery, tools, photographs and the original tanks that were used for tanning hides. The visit offers an authentic look at the centuries-old tanning tradition of Bosa, dating back to Roman times, testifying to the importance of this profession in the economic and cultural history of the area.
