Air, Landier, and Sea

Since we are in this incredible tour group, we got the opportunity to tour the Salvatore Ferragamo factory, museum, and store (of course). We also were honored with the privilege to eat another fantastic lunch at the original Ferragamo headquarters (which is still its headquarters today).

Here’s what we learned on our Ferragamo tours:

• Salvatore Ferragamo made his first pair of shoes (high heels) at 9 years old.
• His parents were farmers, so he had no background in cobbling (not 100% sure that’s how you say that), but he would shadow the local cobbler, despite his parents telling him that shoe making would not be a good career.
• In 1915, at 16 years old, Ferragamo emigrated to the United States to work in a shoe factory in Boston, because he wanted to be able to mass produce the shoes he made. He hated this job because it had no opportunity for creativity. He left this job and started a small shop as an Italian cobbler.
• He then moved to Santa Barbara and eventually Hollywood, California, where he designed and created the shoes for movie stars to not only use in films, but for their own daily wear. Marilyn Monroe was one of his most loyal customers

• Ferragamo didn’t just want to make shoes, but ones that were actually comfortable, so he studied anatomy at USC.

• In 1927, Salvatore moved back to Florence, Italy because he wanted to work with Italian shoemakers.
• Over the years, including throughout WWII, Ferragamo created shoes and patented many of the heel types that we see today, including the wedge.

• Salvatore’s wife, Wanda Ferragamo Miletti, was 24 years his junior, and they had 6 children together.
• When Salvatore died in 1960, Wanda took over the company, even though she’d never worked before and had 6 children to care for.
• Wanda was honorary chairman until her death in 2018. Now her grandchildren run the company.
• Since Salvatore didn’t like the factory style of work, the Ferragamo factory is called “Manovia” which doesn’t have a true translation, but equates to working with hands. While there are many automated portions, much of the work is done by individuals who cut shape the wood templates, adjust designs to be practical for the foot, cut initial patterns, stitch the rubber base to the shoe, and lace the shoes.

The story of Salvatore Ferragamo and his family were very interesting, and his family is extremely kind and hospitable. We enjoyed the honor of getting to spend some time in this beautiful place.

After a few hours rest, we headed out for drinks and dinner in the hills of Tuscany.

We were greeted on top of a gorgeous hill, overlooking the valley by the best cool breeze while we enjoyed three different types of champagne that were made by our host’s friend in France.

We then were introduced to one of the top chefs in Florence and were invited to her home where she not only cooked for us, but all the vegetables used were taken straight from her garden.

Just when you think the evening was special enough, we were surprised by a performance from Andrea Bocelli’s son, Matteo Bocelli. It was absolutely incredible!

It was an unforgettable day, and the best way to end our time in Florence!