A glimpse inside a Florentine silk weaving workshop

In a quiet corner of the bohemian neighborhood of San Frediano, hidden behind an 18th-century iron gate that opens onto a whimsical wisteria-covered alley, lies a Florentine cultural treasure: the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, or Antique Florentine Silk Mill, which has been producing precious textiles since 1786.

Entering through the large, worn wooden door of the workshop, it's is to step back in time and revisit the enchantment and beauty of a more opulent era.

ImageLuana Segreto, a weaver, adjusts warp threads on an 18th century hand loom.

Interior, wooden and iron looms from the 18th and 19th centuries, some of which culminate in more than 16 feet high, furiously flapping to the beat of tens of thousand knots of luminous silk threads, weaving warp and weft threads into sumptuous fabrics, guided by the skilled hands of a select team of expert artisans.

Since arriving in Italy in 2003, I have become increasingly fascinated by the country's very talented artisans, their intriguing workshops and the quality of their products, especially in the Tuscan capital of Florence.

When I first visited Antico Setificio Fiorentino in 2018 for a private event, I was captivated by the giant ancient looms and the exquisite fabrics they produced. I learned that their stories were related to Renaissance society.

ImageAn overview of the factory, which houses 12 looms.