Tuscany's territorial identity is characterised by a multitude of traditional crafts and manufacturing activities which have been handed down from father to son over the centuries.
Numerous small companies and craftsmen shops and their quality products witness antique know how and are the expression of arts and crafts eradicated in the territory.
There is now the necessity to revitalise the memory of this manufacturing and artistic "factory-centres". This gave birth to the initiative to set up a virtual place which could act as an instrument for the communication and promotion of the culture of applied arts, typical of Tuscan tradition.
The traditional concept of "factory" is evolving and is moving towards an active centre of cultural promotion, able to induce economic growth and stimulating artistic and industrial research and creativity.
The city of Montelupo, traditionally characterised by its crafts ceramic and artistic glass products, offers a wide range of opportunities in applied arts and antique traditions, which often are not very well known. The rediscovery of antique quality processing traditions, forms and styles, also by using information and multimedia technologies, will allow for the revalorisation of the cultural heritage and the preservation of Tuscan taste and know-how.
