Salvatore Ferragamo Museum

Last Friday AIFS students (all girls, not a boy in sight!) headed to visit one of Florence's less famous but equally special museums - the Museo di Salvatore Ferragamo.  It may not be as well known as the Uffizi but its collection was much more lusted-after by the students because the Museum is filled to the brim with the beautiful shoes, many of which had featured in films and been worn by Hollywood stars both past and present. 

The guided tour included various short films, some informative (the intricate process of hand-making a shoe), some just for fun (animated Ferragamo pumps and sneakers dancing to hits such as Madonna's vogue). There was also a fantastic montage of film clips displaying the many many famous movies in which the actors had worn Ferragamo's shoes - from West Side Story to High School Musical.  Students also learned some fascinating information on Ferragamo himself and there was many a gasp when we learned that he began his shoemaking career at the tender age of 11 and opened his own shop at 13!  Impressive stuff!

 An extra large Ferragamo wedge (he was the inventor of the cork-wedge) dominates the first room in the Museum.

Ferragamo and one of his most glamourous customers - Sophia Loren.