Italy brings us the home of the Vatican, the birthplace of the Renaissance, delicious cuisines, and a museum dedicated to the work of Salvatore Ferragamo. This man was known for his exquisite design in footwear from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. Ferragamo was considered “the shoemaker of the stars” as he was based in Hollywood early on in his aesthetic career and fashioned shoes for the wealthiest and most powerful women of the century. Since 1995, his work has been on display in a medieval palace in Florence which houses his company. Over ten thousand of his shoe models can be viewed here, as well as photographs, sketches, books, and magazines that boast of his effect on the history of shoe design and international fashion.

The museum’s hours of operation are 10:00am to 6:00pm (Middle European Time) every day except Tuesdays. The cost for entry is five Euros-which would convert to about $6.50-$7 in US currency. If you’re not heading to Italy any time soon, there is a virtual tour of the attraction available here! Don’t worry; the instructions to set up the tour are available in English. The exhibition currently on display is called “Creativity in Colors”.

Italy has impacted the world through religion, social reformation, and cultural adaptation. Yet, the influence of Salvatore Ferragamo is most significant as he artistically crafted a very important possession in society-the shoe. What could be more interesting than an Italian shoe museum? Embracing the life and work of this great man can appeal to anybody.