Italy is renowned for its rich heritage of traditional crafts, including leatherwork, ceramics, goldsmithing, bookbinding, perfume making, glassmaking and marbled paper. Many artisans throughout the country use centuries-old techniques to preserve the unique, high-quality craftsmanship and artistic traditions that developed in medieval craft guilds and flourished during the Renaissance in cities like Florence, Venice, Rome, Siena and Milan.

For interested travelers, Artisans of Leisure can arrange hands-on private lessons in traditional crafts and visits to renowned specialty shops as part of our private Italy tours. A favorite experience we arrange is a private lesson to learn to make marbled paper, particularly in Florence and Venice.

Known locally as marmorizzazione (“marbling”), the intricate craft of paper marbling involves creating colorful patterns on paper that resemble marble, stone, shells and other shapes from the natural world. Traditionally used to decorate books, handcrafted marbled paper is also used in stationery, picture frames, boxes, desk accessories and more.

Marbled paper is thought to have arrived in Europe in the 15th or 16th century from the Middle East through Venice, which controlled major Mediterranean trade routes and the flow of goods between and East and West. The art of hand-decorated paper flourished in Europe in combination with the craft of bookbinding and the rise of book production and availability. 

From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, cities like Florence and Venice had grown into cultural powerhouses and renowned artistic centers known for various crafts and fine arts, which, by the 17th century, included marbled paper and beautifully bound books. Local artisans became known for developing unique patterns and techniques, often passed down through generations of the same family.

To create the marbled paper, the artisan fills a tray with viscous liquid and splatters it with droplets of colorful paint that float on the surface. The artisan then swirls and blends the colors into patterns, such as the famous “peacock” design, before placing a sheet of paper on the surface to absorb the colors.

During a private lesson in handmade marbled paper, our travelers can learn from master artisans behind the scenes in a historic workshop known for preserving traditional methods. Creating your own unique customized piece is a memorable and hands-on experience of the Italy’s crafts heritage. It also makes a wonderful souvenir to bring home.

For interested travelers, we can also arrange a bookbinding class to learn how to apply custom-made marbled paper to a leather-bound book. We also arrange customized shopping and private visits to studios and ateliers to meet with artisans specializing in exquisite local crafts. 

Contact Artisans of Leisure to plan a private Italy tour that features in-depth cultural touring and the option for hands-on lessons in traditional crafts, including paper marbling in Florence, Venice and elsewhere.