They became famous in the 19th century when the gentlewomen used to wear the head coverings created by the able hands of the “trecciaiole”, groups of simple women who wove the wheat hay sat in front of the doors of their houses.

An elegant and popular habit was then born at the same time, which inspired the French comedy in five acts “Un chapeau de paille d’Italie” in 1851, written by Eugene Labiche. At the start of the 20th century, where the hat was still regarded as an essential female accessory, the comedy’s story was borrowed to make a film and an opera by Nino Rota in 1945. The immediate success of the opera also sanctioned the decline of the straw headgear, which was then forgotten from the 1950s onwards.

The accessory, which then seemed to have been abandoned, has been returning to the spotlight in the last few years, achieving massive success among young people and old. There are many workshops in the centre which are creating straw hats in perfect Florentine style, almost like little sculptures.

There are also people who let their creativity run wild and who are creating new, extrovert and original models, not only in straw, but also in felt and grid-worked. These are often one-off pieces for real connoisseurs. To tackle the summer heat or for the pleasure of having worn a piece of the history of Florence handicrafts.