Gucci Archives at Palazzo Settimanni

We take you inside the immense historical archive of the fashion house founded more than 100 years ago in Florence

THE GUCCI ARCHIVE AT PALAZZO SETTIMANNI

It therefore makes quite an impression to cross the threshold of the 15th-century Palazzo Settimanni, which not by chance is located in this ancient Florentine artisanal quadrangle, between Piazza Santo Spirito and Palazzo Pitti. Here, where Gucci opened its first workshop in 1953 and now, after years of work and a restoration project entrusted to local craftsmen (from the parquet to the terracotta of the floors, from the pietra serena to the wrought iron of the gigantic vaults and high shelving, from the sofas to the tables), it preserves its historical archive: the entire history of Gucci from the 1920s.

It is only accessible to Gucci employees, it is also called Gucci Education, and is used to train the brand's employees. We at Firenze Made in Tuscany had the chance to see it and here we are to share this incredible experience with you.

I CAVEAU DELL'ARCHIVIO GUCCI

• OUR GUCCI EXPERIENCE

In the 2,800 square metres distributed over five floors, starting from the cellars, the company's archive is divided into each sector.

GROUND FLOOR

Our Gucci experience begins on the ground floor where, around a beautiful open-air courtyard decorated with plants with long green leaves and purple flowers, inside large metal and glass cases with brass handles, enchanting displays of the legendary handbags: the Jackie, the Bamboo and the Horsebit bags. Along the walls of this cloister-like covered quadrangle, a number of wonder rooms open up: in each one are the collections of vintage handbags, small leather goods and vintage belts, the exhibition hall, vintage and contemporary jewelry, and vintage luggage.

ARCHIVIO GUCCI PALAZZO SETTIMANNI FIRENZE PIANO TERRA

FIRST FLOOR

The first floor is accessed via narrow stone stairs. Here are the scarves, the dresses stored in breathable, transparent organza bags, sewn by the maison's seamstresses, and the shoes. The eyes wander without, pose. They skim over the dress in which Lady Gaga was photographed a few days ago on the set of Ridley Scott's film Gucci, to which the fashion house has made its archive available.

THE CELLARS

The basement is divided into the room of china and household items, the room with desk items, and the room with leisure items. Here one rediscovers a plethora of lifestyle accessories, perfectly contemporary in function and design, that as recently as 60 or 70 years ago were destined to complement the brand's aesthetic: an incredible range extension from lighters to umbrellas, from card holders to travel kits, to wicker picnic baskets and fully accessorized with tableware.

With this renovated archive location, Gucci's number of locations in Florence grows:

• The Gucci factory at Casellina in Scandicci

• The Gucci boutique at 73r Via de' Tornabuoni

• The Gucci Garden in the old Palazzo della Mercanzia in Piazza della Signoria, a magical place wanted in 2018 by former creative director Alessandro Michele, which contains the dynamic tale of Gucci's history among archival pieces and contemporary objects (on the first and second floors), the shop of special editions, the Gucci Osteria bistrot conceived and curated by Massimo Bottura and led by chef Karime Lopez and the newer Giardino 25, for a drink or breakfast.

• Palazzo Settimanni on Via delle Caldaie, 7 is home to the Gucci Archives and Gucci education