Federico Terenzoni
Founder of Splendido, exquisite handcrafted jewellery made in 14ct gold, Federico Terenzoni, shares his love for his hometown of Arezzo. Discover the beautiful Tuscan village that inspires his craft.
Born in Arezzo, Federico has been in the jewellery industry for over 15 years. After travelling abroad, he returned to Italy to develop his collection. In Arrezzo, his creativity flourished as he worked to turn precious gold into true works of art. Splendido was born with a vision in mind: to embrace the Italian goldsmith tradition and enlighten it with innovation and elegance.
"The inspiration lies behind every building of my hometown of Arrezo. It also flows through the spirit of the people depending on the season of the year, or triggered by a special event taking place in Piazza Grande, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy."
History of Arezzo
Arezzo was a wealthy Etruscan city, but its prosperity dwindled after the II century A.C. until the Roman Empire. Around the end of the X century, Arezzo started again to prosper, and indeed the city bloomed during the Middle Ages. During the XIII and XIV centuries, the city acquired the urbanistic structure that is still visible today. Important monuments were built in that period, and many powerful aristocratic families built their palaces and towers in town. Cultural prosperity grew at the same time, and it continued well into the Renaissance.
The Gold Tradition
The Goldsmith tradition in the province of Arezzo has its roots in Etruscan civilization. History describes the Etruscans as the finest goldsmiths of ancient times. Etruria is regarded as the birthplace of the development of jewellery.
In the 14th century, the first jewellery workshops were born in Arezzo: the goldsmiths created artefacts and jewels initially commissioned by the rich families of the area. Once the fame of their art reached Rome, these workshops began specialising in religious jewellery. The turning point occurred in the 1900s when Arezzo shifted from purely agricultural activities into industrial ones. Many small family-owned jewellery enterprises became the backbone of the production in the province, paving the future for what Arezzo jewellery is today.
Arezzo today
Nowadays, Arezzo is still a quite prosperous city. The old town is beautiful. You can walk along many narrow streets or alleys and lose yourself in an intricate maze. You may be surprised to see many antique shops along these streets, but that is exactly the characteristic of Arezzo. Every first Sunday of the month in Arezzo, there is an antique fair called “Fiera Antiquaria”: Many passionate people organise this antique open market in the city; the stalls are located along the streets and the main squares of the city. The stalls are colourful, full of different and curious things. The atmosphere is very joyful and happy.
