Leather in Tuscany (Outside of Florence)

There is a leather school and museum in Florence. Scuola del Cuioio. It's in the Monastery of Santa Croce. They have pieces for sale, and they are of quality but not cheap.

When we were in Florence a few years ago we were told that there is very little Italian leather. Most of the leather is imported from S America but processed the same as Italian leather so that it was extremely difficult to tell the difference. This was from a shop keeper so have no idea if accurate or not. We did buy a couple of leather bags from him and to date have been pleased with the quality and the wear.

I think factory stores are more of a US marketing ploy. We were in some factory outlet stories outside of Florence and were not impressed as to prices or quality of the merchandise. Look like a lot of imported items with high prices.

In the charming walled town of Lucca (you can walk and bike atop the thick walls!), west of Florence and east of Pisa, we bought several excellent leather goods from Pelletteria Allegrini Filippo. They’ve been around for more than 100 years, and assured us that everything in the shop was still of Italian origin. Besides high-quality cattle leather, they have buffalo (not like American bison), which is softer and more expensive. My husband loves his buffalo belt. They also took care of the paperwork we needed to get a refund on the VAT - Value Added Tax.

We stayed down the street, at La Boheme B&B, on Via del Moro number 2, and the Pelletteria was at number 24. When visiting or staying in Lucca, you’ll need to park outside the walls, maybe at the train station, and walk or taxi inside the walls. The leather shop’s Website is https://pelletteriaallegrini.it/

We have purchased from Si!Si.Pelle in Montalcino several times. High quality, hand made. They have been there for years.

Montalcino is a delightful stop on a day trip. The abbey of Sant’Antimo just outside of town is worth visiting. 13th century, I recall

The capital of leather production in Tuscany is in and around the town of SANTA CROCE SULL’ARNO, more or less half way between Florence and Pisa, in the lower Arno Valley (Val d’Arno Inferiore).
Go to GoogleMaps, zoom into the area, then in the search box enter LEATHER GOODS STORE. Some are just concerie (leather tanneries), but several factories have stores attached that sell leather goods. I haven’t gone to buy leather there in decades, with my parents and relatives when I was a kid, so I don’t remember where, assuming they are still in business.

Okay not in Tuscany but in Verona - great boutique store: Il Gabbiano J. - Arte del Cuoio Via Giosuè Carducci, 2.

Run by friends of a friend. Everything made and hand painted/inked in house. If you like a one design and another color scheme they will make and decorate it to your design. My monogramed wallet of many years is still a favorite I carry everyday.

Happy hunting,
=Tod