Tuscany: land of culture and rare beauty
Tuscany is an Italian region with ordinary statute, located in Central Italy. It borders to the north-west with Liguria, to the north with Emilia-Romagna, to the east with the Marche and Umbria, to the south with Lazio.
Its 397 km of continental coasts are bathed by the Ligurian Sea in the central-northern stretch between Carrara and the Gulf of Baratti, while the Tyrrhenian Sea laps the southern coastal stretch between the promontory of Piombino and the mouth of the Chiarone, on the border with Lazio .
The regional capital is Florence, the most populous city with its 382,000 inhabitants, as well as the main historical, artistic and economic-administrative hub.
The other provincial capitals are: Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena.
The islands of the Tuscan Archipelago also belong to the region.
The name Toscana is very ancient: the Latins defined the land inhabited by the Etruscans “Etruria”, then transformed into “Tuscia” and then into “Tuscany”.
The borders of today’s Tuscany roughly correspond to those of ancient Etruria, which at the time also included parts of the current regions of Lazio and Umbria, up to the Tiber.
It was an independent entity until 1859 as the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Then it was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of Italy and today the Italian Republic.
In the Grand Ducal era it also had a hymn, composed by the Florentine Egisto Mosell and entitled La Leopolda.
Tuscany today
Tuscany is known all over the world for its history, its incredible landscapes, its cuisine and its unique and genuine products.
Its villages are like little jewels set among the green and gentle hills of a wonderful land: San Gimignano, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, San Chirico d’Orcia … The Val d’Orcia is of such rare beauty to be has been proclaimed a Unesco heritage!
Tuscan cuisine is renowned all over the world, with the typical flavors of Florentine steak, peposo and wild boar stewed Maremma, lampredotto and cacciucco alla livornese, simple dishes such as panzanella, ribollita and pappa al pomodoro that remind us of the scents of the past.
Among the Tuscan wines appreciated all over the world we remember Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di Scansano and among the whites Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Even the Tuscan bread is unmistakable: unique without salt, as Dante recalls in the Divine Comedy when he was exiled by the Florentines (“You will try, yes, how the bread of others tastes of salt, and how hard it is to go down and up for others stairs “…)
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EXACTOR debt collector
EXACTOR: SHOE FROM EXACTOR
Shoe used by debt collectors (EXACTORS)
HISTORICAL PERIOD: XII / XV century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: SOUTH EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
Soft leather shoe.
Vegetable tanned, free of chromium and other metals,
Falling within the type of organic tanning.
Hand stitching of the upper.
Front unlined.
Buttress.
Leather sole, ankle strap closure and side buckle.EVENTS:
Shoe used by debt collectors, those who collect taxes on behalf of the King or other Lords.
Even in re-enactments he goes around with a large bag and two armed escort men.155,00€ + VATEXACTOR debt collector
155,00€ + VAT -
PILGRIM PELLEGRINO
PILGRIM: SHOE FOR PILGRIM
Pilgrim shoe worn by pilgrims when they went on pilgrimage
HISTORICAL PERIOD: 11th / 15th century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
In vegetable tanned leather,
Free of chromium and other metals,
Falling within the type of organic tanning.
Hand-stitched upper.
Unlined.
Buttress.
Durable leather sole, closure with leather laces.EVENTS:
Shoe worn by pilgrims when they went on pilgrimage,
because it is robust, but at the same time comfortable and safe.
Also used today as in the Middle Ages and in historical re-enactments.138,00€ + VATPILGRIM PELLEGRINO
138,00€ + VAT -
BALIVO
BALIVO: SHOE OF THE FREE FARMER OR LAND OWNER
Balivo shoe worn by a free landowner
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the 11th to the 14th century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: SOUTH EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
Half boot in vegetable tanned leather,
Free of chromium and other metals,
Falling within the type of organic tanning.
Upper all hand-sewn.
Unlined.
Buttress.
Greased leather sole, closure with leather laces and side buckle.EVENTS:
Shoe used by the free landowner, who distributed the tasks to the peasants,
supervised the care of the livestock and the maintenance of tools and buildings,
as it also appears in historical re-enactments.
The shoes are indicative, in height and sturdiness, of the tasks he performs.178,00€ + VATBALIVO
178,00€ + VAT -
ARCHER ARCIERE
ARCHER: ARCHER SHOE
Shoe worn by archers (Arcieri)
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the 11th to the 14th century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
Boot in greased leather.
Upper all hand-sewn.
Buttress.
Front unlined.
Greased leather sole, lacing with leather laces.EVENTS:
Shoe worn by archers, which allowed them to move easily on all types of terrain.
Today, in re-enactments, these shoes make a fine show of themselves for their beauty, workmanship and practicality.155,00€ + VATARCHER ARCIERE
155,00€ + VAT -
CASTALDO
CASTALDO: SHOE FROM CASTALDO
Castaldo the king’s tax collector’s shoe; medieval footwear
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the 13th to the 14th century
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: ITALYDESCRIPTION :
Footwear in greased leather.
Unlined.
Buttress.
Lightweight leather sole.
Lacing with lace, in a single piece with the upper, and side buckle.EVENTS:
Medieval shoe worn by the steward, administrator of the King’s assets or in any case of powerful Lords.
In the reenactments, the person who plays him reveals austerity and honesty.
His shoes honor him for elegance and practicality.125,00€ + VATCASTALDO
125,00€ + VAT -
PROSTITUTE
PROSTITUTE: PROSTITUTE SHOE
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the 17th to the 18th century
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: FRANCE / ENGLAND -From the film HARLOTS-DESCRIPTION :
In vegetable tanned leather.
Free of chromium and metals, falling within the type of organic tanning.
Buttress.
Front unlined.
Leather sole.
Closure with laces at the ankle.EVENTS:
Re-enactment of daily life of the historical period.125,00€ + VATPROSTITUTE
125,00€ + VAT -
PELLEGRINA PILGRIM
PILGRIM: PILGRIM SHOE
Shoe worn by the pilgrim for pilgrimages and travels
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the XIth to the XVth century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
In resistant vegetable tanned leather,
Free of chromium and metals,
Falling within the type of organic tanning.
Buttress.
Hand-stitched upper.
Leather sole.
Ankle closure with lace.EVENTS:
Re-enactment of travels and pilgrimages.110,00€ + VATPELLEGRINA PILGRIM
110,00€ + VAT -
POPOLANA
POPOLANA: POPOLANA SHOE
Shoe that the commoner wore every day
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the XII to the XIV
CENTURY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
In low quality leathers.
Unlined.
Under leather.EVENTS:
For historical reenactments of everyday life of the lower class.96,00€ + VATPOPOLANA
96,00€ + VAT -
MADONNA
MADONNA: SHOE FOR MADONNA
Shoe that the madonna (lady) wore every day
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the XIII to the XV century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
Footwear for middle-class women.
In vegetable tanned leather, free of chromium and metals,
Falling within the type of organic tanning.
Leather / buffalo sole.
Closure with strap and side buckle.
Buttress.
Front unlined.EVENTS:
For those who recall a lady in the community.125,00€ + VATMADONNA
125,00€ + VAT -
LOCANDIERA INNKEEPER
LANDLADY: SHOE FOR LANDLADY – INNKEEPER
Shoe that the innkeeper wore every day
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the XIII to the XV century
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: HOLLAND – from Shoe Museum ShoenviseDESCRIPTION :
In resistant and greased leathers.
Fully lined.
Buttress.
Under leather.
Closure with laces.EVENTS:
Recalling the everyday work in a community.130,00€ + VATLOCANDIERA INNKEEPER
130,00€ + VAT -
DAMA
LADY: SHOE FOR LADY
Shoe that the lady wore every day
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the XII to the XIV century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
In split suede / suede (see color chart).
Buttress.
Fully lined.
Leather sole.
Closure with strap and side buckle.EVENTS:
For those who recall a lady of higher rank in the historical period from the 12th to the 14th century.110,00€ + VATDAMA
110,00€ + VAT -
CORTIGIANA COURTEYARD
COURTYARD: SHOE FOR COURTYARD LADIES (CORTIGIANA)
Shoe that the courtyard wore every day
HISTORICAL PERIOD: from the XIII to the XV century
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: EUROPEDESCRIPTION :
In split suede / vegetable tanned leather.
Free of chromium and metals,
Falling within the type of organic tanning.
Buttress, fully lined.
Leather sole.
Leather lacing.EVENTS:
For those who recall the daily life of a community.130,00€ + VATCORTIGIANA COURTEYARD
130,00€ + VAT