Amid Florence’s stunning architectural wonders, home to masterpieces by legends like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, stands a museum dedicated entirely to shoes. This unique institution celebrates the life and work of Salvatore Ferragamo, famously known as the ‘Shoemaker of Dreams’

By Peter Samson

A palace fit for a fashion empire

Housed in the grand Palazzo Spini Feroni in the heart of Florence, the museum occupies the historic headquarters of Ferragamo’s fashion empire. After finding success in America, Ferragamo returned to Italy, purchasing the palazzo, which became both his home and the headquarters of his global brand.

A young visionary’s American dream

Salvatore Ferragamo’s passion for shoemaking began at age nine in Naples. By 17, he set sail for America’s West Coast. In 1923, at just 25, he opened the Hollywood Boot Shop. Despite its modest name, the boutique quickly attracted Hollywood stars and wealthy elites eager for his custom-made creations.

Hollywood’s Favourite shoemaker

Ferragamo’s talent captured the imagination of Hollywood’s biggest names. Movie icons like Greta Garbo, Mary Pickford and Gloria Swanson wore his shoes on screen. He even crafted 12,000 pairs of sandals for Cecil B. DeMille’s epic film The Ten Commandments.

The anatomy of a perfect shoe

Ferragamo’s commitment to comfort and style led him to study anatomy at university. “A good foot is… a masterpiece of divine workmanship. A bad foot… is an agony,” he once declared, reflecting his devotion to designing shoes that were both elegant and functional.

A-list legacy

The museum’s display of wooden shoe lasts—foot moulds of Ferragamo’s famous clients—reads like a Who’s Who of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Bette Davis, and Sophia Loren had custom-made Ferragamo shoes. The Duchess of Windsor, Ava Gardner, and Ingrid Bergman were also among his loyal clients.

Iconic creations

Perhaps Ferragamo’s most famous design is the pair of white stiletto heels worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch. The unforgettable subway-grate scene wouldn’t have been the same without those signature strappy sandals.

Elegance meets comfort

“Elegance and comfort are not incompatible,” Ferragamo insisted. “Whoever maintains the contrary simply doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” His designs were proof that luxury and practicality could coexist.

Fashionable obsessions

Ferragamo documented his clients’ tastes in his 1957 autobiography Shoemaker of Dreams. He noted that Gloria Swanson and Claudette Colbert preferred classic styles, while Marlene Dietrich demanded the latest fashions—wearing each pair only twice. Eva Perón favored exotic Argentine leather, while Ingrid Bergman felt most comfortable in low heels.

Women by shoe size?

Ferragamo’s observations extended beyond style into personality. In what might seem dated today, he divided women into three categories: “Cinderellas” (size six or smaller), “Venuses” (size six), and “Aristocrats” (size seven or larger). He described Cinderellas as romantic and jewellery-loving, Venuses as glamorous yet home-orientated, and Aristocrats as sensitive and thoughtful.

Ahead of his time

Decades before platform shoes became a fashion staple, Ferragamo designed the iconic rainbow-coloured wedge sandal in the 1930s. The design, patented in 1937, was famously worn by Judy Garland and inspired by The Wizard of Oz’s song ‘Over the Rainbow.’

Shoes as art

Ferragamo considered shoemaking an art form. “I love feet. They talk to me. As I take them in my hands, I feel their strengths, their weaknesses, their vitality or their feelings,” he once said, sentiments that drove his lifelong passion for design.

A golden masterpiece

In 1956, Ferragamo created an 18-carat gold sandal for an anonymous American client, priced at £1,000—a fortune at the time. The intricately engraved shoes, crafted by master goldsmiths near Florence’s Ponte Vecchio, remain a highlight of the museum’s collection.

During his visit to Florence, Peter stayed at the Hotel Lungarno, owned by the Ferragamo family. Guests at the luxury hotel receive complimentary access to the Ferragamo museum. Rooms start from €480 per night. Learn more at lungarnocollection.com