26 September: inside the Opificio’s restoration workshops

On Saturday 26 September 2026, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure opens its workshops at Via degli Alfani, Fortezza da Basso and Palazzo Vecchio. Tours are free with compulsory booking: departures at 9, 10, 11 and 12, lasting approximately 45–50 minutes.

Our particular curiosity is the tapestry and carpet workshop in the Sala delle Bandiere at the top of Palazzo Vecchio: groups of ten and stairs-only access, with no lift. Meet in the inner courtyard, in front of the ticket office. Booking links are on the Opificio website; we have not verified remaining places.

We recommend this for anyone who looks at an artwork and wonders how it survived. Consider taking two questions: how do conservators decide which traces of time to retain, and when might treatment change an object too much? These can give your visit a personal focus.

Choose the workshop that interests you most instead of trying to fit in every location. Ask about the tour language beforehand if you do not speak Italian; an English explanation should not be assumed. Keep your booking confirmation and check the organiser’s instructions before setting out.