ROOTS TO TOUCH - mettici le mani

The experience

“O fasarài al è fradi di nò fâ mai” (I will do is the brother of never doing) is an imperative that everyone knows and reveals the resourcefulness and great ability to do, to work, of the men and women of our region. One thing is certain, our grandparents knew how to use their hands to do it, and they knew how to do it very well: the ancient crafts are precisely the witnesses of an artisan tradition that has its roots in a distant past.

ROOTS TO TOUCH – mettici le mani is an immersive roots laboratory to discover the ancient crafts and skills of the Friuli Venezia Giulia tradition. There are many traditional crafts in Friuli Venezia Giulia, some of which have been lost, while others have undergone evolution: first of all, the wise techniques of agriculture, viticulture and livestock breeding are of great importance, with excellent products appreciated not only nationally but internationally; but it is right and wise to remember the basket makers, skilled basket makers; the knife grinders, blade sharpeners known throughout the national territory; the cramari, street vendors; mosaicists etc. Many of these professions have become extinct today, others still survive sporadically and with difficulty. The richness of these crafts is found precisely in the great skills handed down by ancestors, because the word art is jealously guarded in the word craftsmanship.

And, for example, in the art of grandmothers one finds the mastery of making one’s own Friulian shoes, scarpet, stafet, oponke etc, in the various languages and dialects of the region, the typical slippers made of velvet, fabric and… bicycle tyres! The objective of the activity is to “get your hands dirty”, in its most positive sense: you will be invited to choose a skill or art of your ancestors, such as knife sharpening, or the construction of Friulian shoes, or even the harvest; experts of the chosen skill will be involved not only to demonstrate their art, but above all to allow you to learn those techniques that your ancestors handled with mastery and knowledge, so that you are the new custodian of the tradition. You will be invited to “get dirty” hands” and to bring unique traditional knowledge that has a home and family flavor to your country of residence. The entire activity is conducted by experts in typical crafts and tradition and by a roots storyteller.

ROOTS TO TOUCH – mettici le mani is part of FEELING ROOTS the program of roots workshops designed specifically for you and for all those seeking answers to their origins in our region. As a roots traveler, who chooses one of the FEELING ROOTS activities, you will receive the Roots Diary. The Roots Diary is a portfolio designed to preserve memories, impressions, photographs, notes and notes of the journey of discovery of one’s origins. A tool that can accompany you throughout your journey, a guardian tool and witness to a truly unique experience for you.