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Umbria Handicrafts: art and tradition
Handicraft Routes
In
Umbria, the land of a thousand colors, with its mild
climate, towns and villages of incomparable charm, saved
from the urban gigantism that elsewhere has overwhelmed
traditional models of social and culture life, it is
still possible for visitors to experience uncontrollable
emotions and become aware of all the nuances that over
time have made this land dear and precious.
Ancient crafts that are still expressions of local art
convey indefinable sensations to us as we browse in
shops and local street markets throughout the region,
and at the same time they denote the richness of the
Umbrian artisan tradition, creating the illusion of
being in another day and age¿
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These products are an indication of the long-term
activity of ancient workshops, in the course of which
they have preserved styles, ancient techniques and
materials, strengthening the artistic tradition of the
particular areas in which these activities have their
roots.
These production set-ups are part of the
historical-cultural heritage of specific Umbrian areas,
since it is their products that transfer and make
legible all those aspects of local tradition and old
technical-stylistic methods that mark the distinction
between art handicrafts and quality handicrafts.
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The importance of art products (reproductions of decorative
motifs, architectural and sculptural products etc.) is
undeniable; the recognition of an ¿acquired heritage¿
qualifies the product itself and sends us back to the
places of ancient production and to the artisan artists
who work in such a way as to allow the wealth of each
region to emerge in its totality and typicalness.
In
parallel, traditional handicrafts, in other words those
related to traditional workmanship, are concerned with
production quality, both as regards manufacturing
processes that comply with regulations and as regards
the reference to regional vocations of those
manufacturing processes that no longer exist. In the
development of artistic and traditional handicrafts, the
fundamental role undoubtedly rests with history and
tradition; in fact, if on the one hand these are brought
out through reproductions, on the other hand they find
fertile ground for experimentations that bring together
tradition and contemporary research.
Artistic and traditional handicrafts thus become the
link between the wealth of works of art, architecture,
painting and landscape in the region and the capacity of
expression of artisans, in such a way as to bring
Umbrian places alive and thus emphasise the local
identity of the various productions.
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Umbrian handicrafts are so well integrated into the
urban fabric of the region¿s art towns that the numerous
events, such as exhibitions, street markets, historical
commemorations of ancient crafts, etc., and the
countless workshops scattered throughout the region,
help to place even more emphasis on local handicrafts.
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We would like to suggest various thematic routes that will
allow visitors to discover Umbria¿s artisan traditions:
a) Textiles, embroidery, needlepoint and lace
b) Terracotta, ceramics and maiolica
c) Iron and copper
d) Wood
......other routes......
In addition to the traditional manufacture of
textiles and objects made of iron, wood and ceramic,
there is a also a production of glass, lithography and
jewellery of considerable importance; there are
countless workshops and shops to visit all over the
region.
The Master Goldsmiths of Perugia, Torgiano, Spoleto,
Orvieto and Terni have revived the Etruscan technique of
granulation.
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Three
generations of Master Glassmakers, in their 19th-century
studio in Perugia, have been resorting to sketches from
their historical archive to create glass artefacts that
are still fired in the same kilns used in the past, then
assembled and fitted with lead came, to make magnificent
stained-glass windows.
The ancient burin technique, which is now used in a
xylographic studio in Perugia, makes it possible to
engrave wood and make a model of it to print the
original of a work. However, the best place for art
prints is a printing workshop in Città di Castello that
dates back to 1799.
ITINERARIES BY AREA
NORTH:
San Giustino, Città di Castello, Montone, Umbertide,
Gubbio, Gualdo Tadino
CENTER:
a) Perugia, Corciano, Marsciano, Campignano, Deruta ,Ripabianca,
Sant'Angelo di Celle, San Nicolò di Celle
b) Assisi, Bettona, Bevagna, Montefalco, Trevi,
Collecchio, Santa Lucia in Piaggia, Pigge, Spello,
Valtopina, Nocera Umbra, Sellano, Villamagina
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SOUTH:
a) Ficulle, Allegrona, Castel Viscardo, Orvieto, Todi,
Avigliano Umbro, Otricoli, Calvi dell'Umbria
b) Sangemini, Terni, Arrone, Spoleto, Norcia, Preci,
Cerreto di Spoleto
LAKE TRASIMENO AREA:
Magione, San Feliciano, Panicale, Piegaro, Città della Pieve, Castiglione del Lago, Sanfatucchio, Panicarola,
Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Isola Maggiore
Courtesy of
Umbria 2000
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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