Venice has been famous as a city of impeccable craftsmanship for centuries. Admittedly, today, it can be harder to find such carefully handcrafted pieces as cheaply produced copies flood gift stores and markets but, if you go looking, you can still find exceptional quality goods. From the renowned Murano glass, to Burano lace, to intricately crafted masks, and beyond, there are an array of crafting traditions still alive in the city. So, if you book one of our vacation rentals in Venice, be sure to go searching for the real thing when shopping for souvenirs – and, if you’re travelling in October, then you can head to the Salone dell’Alto Artigianato Italiano (or Italian High Craftsmanship Fair) to find everything in one handy spot!
The third edition of this event, the Salone dell’Alto Artigianato Italiano is set to take place in Venice from Thursday the 2nd of October to Sunday the 5th of October 2025 and to gather some of the city and country’s greatest crafts and artisans in one location. For the discerning shopper who has booked a holiday rental in Venice and wants perfect souvenirs or those who specifically want to seek out beautifully-made and unique pieces for their homes and wardrobes, this is an unmissable event.
This event will be hosted in the perfect location that is the Arsenale of Venice – one of the great reminders of the Serenissima, the period of time when Venice was a major trade and artistic hub and the centre of a great maritime republic. The exhibition will be spread across the Tese delle Nappe and San Cristoforo buildings, breath-taking and well-restored grand historic pavilions of Istrian stone columns and airy vaults, over a total area of 7,000 square meters. In this space, centuries of tradition and know-how passed down through the generations will come together with innovation to present the creativity and talent of master makers from all over Italy in various media including fine fabrics, ceramics, glass, jewellery, furnishings, and more.
Highlighting the value of careful labour and crafting, telling the stories of the crafts and the makers and individual objects, and bringing traditions, colours, and styles from all across the country together, this is a showcase of contemporary Italian creative and technical excellence in one location that is rarely paralleled. As they say on their own website, the event offers, “a combination of history, art, and culture in the footsteps of ancient crafts in a city that has distinguished itself globally for the excellence of its creations.”
Previous editions have attracted over ten thousand people over the course of the event, all drawn to the promise of this extraordinary curation of artisanal goods. If you want to be among their number for the 2025 edition, just take a look at our vacation rentals in Venice and our villas in Veneto and plan a special day-trip to this incredible event during your stay in the area this October. Pick up something extra-special to remember your vacation forever by and bring a little of the tradition and legacy of this great city home with you!