Travel with craft this summer: follow an itinerary or create your own

This summer, let the Homo Faber Guide be your tailored travel tool for unforgettable adventures that weave craftsmanship into your journeys. Whether you are looking for a city break or an island retreat, with over 30 European countries to choose from, there is a rich selection of craftsmanship destinations to be explored and experienced. Since its launch in September 2020, the Homo Faber Guide has reached over 1000 artisans and 450 experiences from 31 countries, with regular weekly updates that ensure the platform is constantly evolving and expanding.

A recently launched feature is the integrated craft itineraries, an opportunity to explore a destination by theme following a mapped out path. For a truly unique experience of craft, follow the Bornholm itinerary and wind your way across this island of craft to find the talented artisans thriving amongst its beautiful scenery. Meet glassblower Morten Klitgaard, ceramicist Christina Schou Christensen, and woodturner Hans Henning Pedersen, amongst others. For glass lovers, spend a day on the island of Murano following a set itinerary, which takes you to the heart of the Venetian glass tradition. Journey along the narrow canals to visit the workshop of lampworker Cesare Toffolo, stop on your way at the magnificent showroom of Palazzo Barovier & Toso, witness glassmaking in action at a glassworks with Ercole Moretti and much more. Visit Paris, through a new gaze, with a tailored itinerary in La Bastille neighbourhood. Discover the local creatives inside their workshops, from woodcarver Etienne Raysaac to featherworker Julien Vermeulen.

 

For those seeking Mediterranean coastlines or rugged mountains, the guide has just added Croatia and Armenia to its pages, as well as their dramatic landscapes, they hide many craftsmanship jewels. Head to Zagreb and spend a day with local ceramicist Lidia Boševski, source clay in the nearby countryside and back in her workshop experiment with textures and natural forms. Just outside the city, venture to the workshop of cooper Milivoj Ivo Golub and find out the secrets of the region’s old artisanal tradition of making barrels, casks and wooden utensils for wine makers.

To meet a ceramicist creating striking sculptural forms from white charmotte clay, wind your way north to the workshop of Danijela Pičuljan. Passing through Split, on your way to the islands of Hvar or Vis, take the time to visit Tea Radić and add a new set to your tableware collection.
Explore Armenia through its craftspeople; in Yerevan meet Gohar Sargsyan, a young textile printer creating silk scarves inspired by her homeland’s vivid flowers and changing seasons. Have a go yourself and come away with your very own painted silk scarf. Combine a trip to the Byurakan observatory with a visit to the workshop of paper maker Ararat Sarkissian. Watch how he creates his traditional paper using okra and Armenian herbs, inspired by old Armenian scripts, manuscripts and history. Discover Armenia’s ceramic and mosaic tradition through a visit to Mane Tiles where you can find colourful tiles decorated with traditional patterns.

 

Island hopping around Europe, go in search of exceptional craftsmanship. On the Greek island of Tinos head to the workshop of marble sculptor Petros Marmarinos where he carves crystalline rock using age-old techniques, mostly dating back to antiquity. The Cycladic civilization and the scenery of his native village, Pyrgos, mainly inspire his poetic creations. Visiting Sicily, venture to the heart of the island to a hilltop town to meet local ceramicist Nicolò Morales who creates colourful sculptures, majolica vases and statuettes inspired by his homeland’s symbols and flora and fauna. Passing by Palermo, collect a gift from Edizioni Precarie handmade of repurposed paper or a piece of botanical jewellery handcrafted by Alessia Bruno. In the Balearics, on the island of Menorca make your way to the studio of textile printer, Natalia Lumbreras and be bedazzled by her vibrant geometric designs. From silk scarves, kimonos and cushions to folding screens, discover how her passion for painting can inject some Spanish sunshine into your wardrobe or interiors. Skip across to Majorca to discover the unusual furniture of Jordi Ribas Ros inspired by the architect Antoni Gaudí with their curved and organic forms.


Visit homofaber.com or download the app available for free on both Apple Store and Google Play Store to discover the itineraries and travel destinations.


User guide:

Homo Faber Guide is structured into different sections: Discover, Visit, Experience, Itineraries and Ambassadors.

Discover: Find a selection of the best master artisans and rising talents, ateliers and manufacturers of excellence from all over Europe. Connect with them directly through the guide.

Visit: Find museums, galleries and shops linked to fine craftsmanship to visit in all corners of the continent.

Experience: Find a curated list of workshop visits, artisan master classes, guided tours, and temporary exhibitions and fairs across Europe.

Itineraries: Follow a curated and themed craft itinerary or create your own.

Ambassadors: Renowned individuals and partner institutions within the craft, creativity and design world who recommend their favourite artisans, galleries and experiences in their home cities.

Subcategories: search by country, city, craft or material.