There is another way to discover a destination: not simply by visiting it, but by stepping into its workshops, meeting the people who live and work there every day, and trying to create something with your own hands.
There’s another way to discover a destination: not just by visiting it, but by stepping into its artisan workshops, meeting the people who bring the place to life every day, and creating something with your own hands.
Among the experiences offered by The Gambassi Experience are two workshops dedicated to ceramics and goldsmithing: opportunities to meet two local artisans, hear their stories, and turn a simple stay in Tuscany into a lasting memory to take home with you.
Painting Ceramics with Catia
In the historic centre of Gambassi Terme, Catia Berni welcomes visitors into her ceramic workshop, where she shares her passion for hand-painted ceramics and her own distinctive artistic style.
Her workshop offers a simple and creative introduction to this art form, allowing you to learn some of the techniques used to decorate ceramics.
The experience lasts around two hours, and each participant can choose a small ceramic piece to work on, such as a tile, a plate, or another object.
You can follow Catia’s personal style or draw inspiration from traditional Tuscan decorations, such as flowers, fruit, and classic decorative motifs.
The beauty of this workshop lies in the opportunity to experiment and let your creativity flow.
Once the decoration is complete, the piece is fired and can be collected a few days later. This way, at the end of your holiday, you take home more than just a photograph of Gambassi: you take home a small object you created yourself during your journey.
The workshop is available all year round, in both Italian and English, and is also suitable for children aged 10 and over. The experience is generally held on Wednesdays, but other days can be arranged upon request. Booking is required at least two days in advance.
Step into the world of goldsmithing with Irina
The second experience introduces you to a completely different craft: the art of goldsmithing.
In her atelier, Irina tells visitors about her work and shows them how her creations come to life, using gemstones, crystals, and metals.
Her creations are inspired by Tuscany, its shapes and colours, transforming the landscape and identity of the region into jewellery and small works of art.
But this experience goes beyond simply observing.
Participants can watch a piece of jewellery being made and try their hand at some traditional goldsmithing techniques, such as piercing and chasing.
Guided by Irina, participants can try their hand at creating their own piece of jewellery and discover just how much skill, precision, and craftsmanship go into a handmade piece.
And at the end, there is a special surprise: the piece of jewellery created during the workshop can be taken home as a unique memento of the experience.
For those looking for something even more personal, it is also possible to ask Irina to create a custom-made piece of jewellery, turning the experience into a truly unique keepsake of your stay in Gambassi Terme.
The experience lasts approximately one and a half hours and is available all year round in Italian, English, and French. It is suitable for teenagers aged 12 and over, as well as adults over 65.
Two workshops, two stories, one shared destination
Ceramics and goldsmithing are two very different worlds, but these experiences have something in common: they offer a chance to discover Gambassi Terme through the people who preserve its artisanal heritage.
It’s not simply about taking part in a workshop.
It means stepping into an artisan’s workshop, asking questions, getting a close-up look at their craft, getting your hands dirty, trying new techniques, and discovering the value of time and craftsmanship.
It is a way of travelling that is increasingly appreciated by those seeking authentic experiences and looking to move beyond traditional tourism.
A memory to create, not just to buy
One of the most beautiful aspects of these experiences is that the souvenir is not something you simply buy in a shop.
It’s something you create yourself.
A decorated tile, a hand-painted plate, a piece of jewellery created during a workshop: simple objects, yet each one has a story to tell.
Every time you look at them once you’re back home, they can bring to mind a day spent among the Tuscan hills, a conversation with an artisan, and the pleasure of having learned something new.
Experience Gambassi Terme Through Its People
Gambassi Terme is a place of landscapes, history, thermal springs, and nature, but also of people.
It is the artisans, producers, tourism professionals, and everyone who contributes to keeping this area alive every day who make it a place to be discovered at a slower pace.
The artisan experiences offered by The Gambassi Experience are all about this: going beyond a simple visit and discovering the area through the people who live here and bring it to life through their work.
Because when travelling through Tuscany, it’s not just about what you see.
Sometimes, the most beautiful part is discovering the people behind what we see.
And in Gambassi Terme, you can meet them, step into their workshop, and, for a few hours, become part of that story yourself.
