D) gold and gemstone jewelry and tailor-made men's clothing Fashion and culture itinerary in Florence

The Opificio Torrini “trademark” tells a story that is six centuries long. The half four-leaf clover Q and the spur, are the signum with which Jacopus Turini de la Scharperia registered with the Florentine Guild of Smiths as an armorer in 1369. Skill, creativity and a profound knowledge of the craft have been handed down through the centuries, almost genetically, making this firm – that is officially recognized as the fourth in Italy for its continuous family management – a workshop in which craft tradition and technological innovation come together in elegant, exclusive and very beautiful jewels. The historic "must-haves" include the theme jewel , the button covers, the watch with an inverted crown, the Zero bracelet and the Rondelle necklace. On the floor above the store, the Museo Torrini, features a small and unique collection of gold and silver jewelry, watches and art objects that include rare specimens of engraved Renaissance silver, eighteenth century brooches and a nineteenth century semiprecious inlay parure that were all made in the Torrini workshop.
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The museum is located on the first floor of the church of Orsanmichele, the former granary that was transformed into a house of worship in the fourteenth century. Inside the museum are the original fifteenth to seventeenth century statues that stood in the niches on the façade of this extraordinary building. The sculptures are the work of great Florentine artists such as Andrea del Verrocchio, Donatello, Ghiberti and Nanni di Banco.
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After an apprenticeship with master tailors from his native region of Calabria, and experience as a cutter in Florence, Giuseppe Seminara opened his own shop on Via Manzoni in 1957. In 1967 he moved to Via de' Calzaiuoli, and since 1997 his son Gianni has been running the business. The atelier exudes a twentieth century air with its period decor. The fine (English and Italian) fabrics and fashion accessories are displayed in the front room; the next room is for fittings (three in all) and the last room is the workshop. It is here that the soft (never deconstructed as the Neapolitan sometimes decrees, nor stiff in the British style) jackets, custom-tailored suits, coats (camel, Casentino, cashmere, etc.), trousers, formal wear and sport jackets are made for discriminating men.

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