I'm in Florence Italy!!!...Vintage instruments??

**Barry Platnick** · Jun-22-2012, 12:54pm

Well,
The family trip os going great (you didnt know I was on one). My daughter wants to look for vintage (antique) violins in Florence.

Any of you ( especially the Italians) know where to look for such a thing in Florence Italy?

(full disclaimer...I want to look at mandos)

Barry

**mrmando** · Jun-22-2012, 1:06pm

Well, don't miss the instrument gallery at the Accademia:
http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/itine...Accademia.html

There's a museum in Venice with some great old mandolins.

**August Watters** · Jun-22-2012, 1:26pm

Oh, my! Florence is where Carlo Mazzacarra has his workshop -- he finds old mandolins in Naples, and either restores them or builds new based on the old bowl back. Let me know what you think - I'm in Padua!

**Paul Merlo** · Jun-22-2012, 1:38pm

Buy something leather while you're there - perhaps a gig bag?

**mrmando** · Jun-22-2012, 2:00pm

Ooh yeah! Carlo Mazzaccara is at Via Borgo San Frediano 135. Looks like it's just 2 blocks south of the river.

http://www.oldmandolin.com/

**joec** · Jun-23-2012, 12:19am

Forget antique violins. Go see the Vettori family for new masterpieces.
http://www.vettorifamily.com/home/menu2.htm

**mrmando** · Jun-23-2012, 2:41am

Vettori may be building new violins, but they say they're building them from spruce felled in 1772.

**billkilpatrick** · Jun-23-2012, 7:17am

jamie marie lazzara
via dei leoni, 4/R
firenze

055 280573

american luthier - from california, i think: http://www.masterviolinmaker.info/

**brunello97** · Jun-23-2012, 11:01am

Originally Posted by billkilpatrick

jamie marie lazzara
via dei leoni, 4/R
firenze

055 280573

american luthier - from california, i think: http://www.masterviolinmaker.info/

Nice call, Bill. I have been to Jamie's shop a number of times. Nice location and nice vibe amidst il trambusto fiorentino.
Her shops smells good, too.

Mick

**billkilpatrick** · Jun-23-2012, 11:52am

Originally Posted by brunello97

Nice call, Bill. I have been to Jamie's shop a number of times. Nice location and nice vibe amidst il trambusto fiorentino.
Her shops smells good, too.Mick

really? - i stop by whenever i'm in town (and she's open) - firenze under "sol leone" is not a place to be but visiting her shop is always a treat.

**brunello97** · Jun-23-2012, 8:47pm

Bill, I'm envious, we only get to Tuscany in the summertime, so I've never really gotten to appreciate the off-season there in Firenze or the countryside. Christmas typically has been up in Liguria where it is cold, cold, cold. At least for my Texan blood.

I've picked up the violin now and again but it is like learning German. I should, and I really WANT to, but… You play, don't you?

Mick

**billkilpatrick** · Jun-23-2012, 11:16pm

ha! - i'll play the fiddle like mad for a month or so, then run back to mother-mandolin - so it goes. i get to firenze about as often as you do ... and it's only an hour and a half away - county-lovin' boy, that's-a me!

**Barry Platnick** · Jun-26-2012, 11:27am

Never made it to any music destinations but wow! I have never been to Italy and have loved it all.
leaving Manarola tomorrow morning and headed to Milan for 2 days before coming home...I do miss my mandos though.

**brunello97** · Jun-26-2012, 11:31am

Originally Posted by Barry Platnick

Never made it to any music destinations but wow! I have never been to Italy and have loved it all.
leaving Manarola tomorrow morning and headed to Milan for 2 days before coming home...I do miss my mandos though.

Milano? Try to get to Peck:

http://www.peck.it/

Gruhn + Elderly + Fiddler's Green of food. A great assortment of wines as well.

Mick

**Barry Platnick** · Jun-28-2012, 10:25am

Yikes! Went to Peck today. To bad we're leaving tomorrow. It makes me want to get a flat for a week or two just so I can shop there and eat (not that we've been eating badly anywhere in Italy). I'm gonna need two tone guards when I get home.