The Scuola di Cuoio (Leather school) is situated inside Santa Croce, the historic church where Michelangelo is buried together with many other notable Florentines. The school teaches the craft of manufacturing by hand, leather clothes and accessories including wallets and purses, which are subsequently sold to the public. The leather goods sold by the school are usually of a very high quality but are on offer for much lower prices than similar named brands in chic Florentine shops. When you buy an item from the Scuola di Cuoio there is also a chance to tour the workshop.

If you are looking for truly top quality leather items especially large items such as a leather coat, then the Scuola di Cuoio is the place to go first. Buying leather in Santa Croce is not like buying a cheap coat in a leather market but the prices are much more reasonable than you would expect for the quality of the leather and the design.

If you are renting an apartment in Florence for a while, it is possible to commission Scuola di Cuoio to custom a leather coat to fit you precisely. The thrill of trying on a beautifully soft, tailor-made, leather jacket for the first time is a real joy. If you rather not stump up your holiday cash for a leather coat or jacket, you can still take home some fine Italian leather such as wallets, purses, leather boxes for storing jewelry, leather albums, spectacles holders or letter openers and scissor cases.

In Piazza Di Santa Croce there is ‘Caesar’ which is a large shop that also sells top quality leather wallets, purses, coats and jackets. The attendants are known to be charming and will make alterations on the spot to ensure a sale. If you are looking for fine leather shoes in the Santa Croce area, then ‘Lily of Florence’ in Via Guicciardini 2 is a great place to visit as the choice is amazing and the prices reasonable. It is a family run business and the service is very friendly and efficient.

Interested to learn more about Florence? Read about perfect weekends in Florence, Italy.