From April 25 to May 1, quality craftsmanship is celebrated with the 88th international craftsmanship exhibition, MIDA, a project by Firenze Fiera, held at Fortezza da Basso. Launched in 1931 as the first craft exhibition-market in Italy, the fair holds a sentimental spot for both locals and those in the art world for its international appeal and endless array of creativity, making it one of the must-see annual events, welcoming around 70,000 visitors and 450 exhibitors to the 34,000 square metre space each year.
Visitors get the chance to put their own skills to the test, with experiential workshops led by expert crafters aimed at all ages. Dedicated activities are set up on the ground floor of the Palazzina Lorenese, organized by Artex, Center for Artistic and Traditional Crafts for Tuscany in collaboration with Firenze Fiera, CNA Firenze, Confartigianato Imprese Firenze and OMA, Osservatorio dei Mestieri d’Arte. Live demonstrations let you see firsthand the talents by the likes of the students and instructors of Le Arti Orafe, the Florentine goldsmith school, who will be present at the Polveriera.
The 88th edition of the fair sees the new addition of the ninth Salone dell’Arte e del Restauro, Italy’s leading fair in the fields of conservation, restoration and promotion of global artistic heritage, hosted in the Monumental Area at Fortezza da Basso, at the same time as MIDA, from April 25 to May 1. Talks, presentations, exhibitions and presentations make up the programme, with noted national and international entities from the field. A highlight is the international conference, Florence Heri-Tech – The Future of Heritage Science and Technologies, attracting scholars, researchers and experts.
Beyond perusing the dazzling creations on display, there’s a vast variety of food stands with products from all over the world, meaning the fair captivates the attention of the gourmet curious and the art enthusiast. Situated on the top floor of the Spadolini Pavilion, you can purchase straight from the artisan producers, picking among the Sardinian cheeses and mullet bottarga, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP and dried figs from Puglia, typical products from Matera, Sicilian jams, French cheeses and cured meats from Norcia on offer. Naturally, Tuscan specialties are not lacking, but the selection also spreads further afield with Middle Eastern items based on sesame and dates, while herbs, gluten-free pastries, Renaissance chocolate and wild-fennel liqueur are also worth mentioning.
There are even more gourmet delights to explore in the Corte dei Sapori, located in the central square of the Fortezza da Basso, where visitors can taste craft beer, artisanal gelato, gourmet hamburgers, fresh pasta, Neapolitan pastries, poke, Sicilian artisanal fries, cannoli, lampredotto, tripe, Indian cuisine, crêpes, Thai ice cream, Asian street food, a selection of bao, Greek cuisine…the list goes on! This section is open from 10am to 10pm, with free entry from 8 to 10pm (excluding May 1, when it closes at 8pm).
Tickets cost 8 euro (6 euro reduced), purchasable online and on-site, and a three-day ticket costing 20 euro can be purchased online. Click here for more information.
