The Special Fierucole are held once a year and deal more closely with a specific sector from handicrafts to baking.
Over time, many other thematic Fierucole have developed, all under the patronage of the City of Florence. During these Fierucole, the association offers, completely free of charge, conferences open to the public, and home economics and manual skills workshops aimed especially at young people.
In September 1984, more than 150 years after the end of the Rificolona farmers' market, as a commitment to the rebirth of that market and the rural world that made it possible, the first Fierucola dedicated to bread was held in Piazza SS. Annunziata in Florence and considered the association's mother festival.
2016 also saw the birth of the National Movement of Farmer-Bakers, young producers of ancient grains who have returned to producing bread with their own flours and who meet regularly to discuss farming and processing techniques.
The Fair takes place during the first weekend in October and hosts around 70 Italian and European ceramists presenting a wide variety of ceramic techniques, from stoneware to porcelain, from majolica to lustre.
Each ceramist succeeds in combining the ceramic working technique with his artistic and cultural imprint, thus creating unique pieces: utilitarian and decorative objects, bijoux and sculptures. Organic food and wine stalls are also on display.
For children, a series of clay manipulation workshops and recreational activities led by master ceramists.
The ancient name of this fair was the Fierucola delle lane di San Martino (St Martin's Wool Fair). In the 14th century and the following centuries, in fact, it was on St Martin's Day (11 November) that the large annual wool fair was held.
The fair is dedicated to products derived from sheep, goats, cattle and animals whose breeding does not have the primary or exclusive purpose of meat production: cheeses, local wool with natural dyes, textiles, felt, knitted fabrics, spinning and cheese and butter production tools, shepherds' tools such as sticks, flutes and bagpipes.
The Fierucola dell'Immacolata is not just an opportunity to buy handicrafts and sustainable objects, it is also a place for exchange and dialogue between voluntary associations and the local community.
On display will be local and fair trade handicrafts, plastic-free decorations made from natural materials, and short supply chain foodstuffs all under the banner of sustainable Christmas.
Natural, sustainable and durable Christmas gifts! At the Fierucola del Natale you will find products made of quality materials, respecting the environment and craft traditions: accessories for the home and for the person, from wooden utensils to timeless modular furniture, from ceramic tableware with lead-free glazes to furnishing accessories, from board games to cribs, from Christmas decorations created with natural elements gathered in the forest to vegetable-tanned leather to hand-woven yarns, and again agendas, natural soaps and much more.
On the last Sunday in April, the Fierucola dei Legnaioli takes place in Florence, dedicated to those who love wood and value it: carpenters, carvers, turners, chair-makers, sculptors, artists, toy-makers and researchers.
The woodworkers present unique handmade objects that show the history and character of the tree from which they are made: small furniture items, objects for everyday use, simple toys, furniture that respects people's wellbeing and sculptures.
