Scuola del Cuoio

Scuola del Cuoio was founded after the II World War thanks to the cooperation between Santa Croce’s  Basilica Franciscan friars and Gori and Casini families , leather artisans since the ‘30ies, with the aim to teach war’s orphans a job that could give them the possibility to earn a living: Leather goods manufacturing art.

By the end of the ‘50ies , together with the Minister of Justice, Scuola del Cuoio started to offer courses both for Murate prisoners and Reformatories .

Currently Scuola del Cuoio is well-known all around the world for its products’ quality and for maintaining traditional techniques.

This school is the biggest artisan workshop in Florence where customers can admire artists working on their trade: workbenches, placed in the ancient Monastery dormitory’s  corridor are used as an instrument for Scuola del Cuoio Masters and recognized as an artistic and historical symbol.

Scuola del Cuoio offers courses from 3 up to 12 months in length and short courses from 3 hours up to 1 week and they are conceived for students,  for tourists and visitors.

This school follows the centuries-old artisanal Florentine tradition where the Master follows the student during the course of his daily activities .

Masters and their pupils work in the ancient Novices’ Dormitory’s quarter, using more than half a century  old  handmade tools.