bahrainthismonth.com | NOVEMBER 2026 ITALY IN BAHRAIN 28 Unexpectedly Italy Behind Italy’s familiar icons lies a country of unexpected inventions and remarkable craftsmanship, with connections that stretch all the way to Bahrain. Think you know Italy? Here are 20 things that might surprise you (with 1,000s more to discover). Fashion Went Global in Florence On February 12, 1951, entrepreneur Giovanni Battista Giorgini organised a collective presentation of Italian haute couture at Villa Torrigiani for international buyers and journalists. Its success helped introduce Italian designers to a global audience, with later shows moving to Palazzo Pitti. Como’s Luxury Silk Lake Como may draw the visitors, but generations of textile expertise have made the surrounding area an important centre for processing and finishing silk. Fabrics carrying major international labels can begin with specialist Italian manufacturers whose names consumers may never see. Etruscans Mastered Goldwork The Etruscans were accomplished jewellery makers who mastered techniques including granulation, in which tiny grains of precious metal were painstakingly applied to create intricate decoration. Their work established a tradition of sophisticated Italian metalwork thousands of years before the modern luxury houses. Biella’s Centuries of Wool Its centuries-old wool industry includes names such as Ermenegildo Zegna and Loro Piana. Vitale Barberis Canonico traces its history to 1663, while Biella joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2019. Jewellery Spans Italy Valenza in Piedmont, Vicenza in Veneto and Arezzo in Tuscany are among the country’s most important jewellery centres. Their specialist manufacturers help explain how traditional Italian goldsmithing continues on an international scale. Cremona Makes Violins by Hand UNESCO recognises its traditional violinmaking as Intangible Cultural Heritage. A maker may complete just three to six individually constructed instruments a year, hand-shaping and assembling more than 70 wooden pieces. Belluno Makes Luxury Eyewear Many designer frames begin life far from the fashion capitals. Around Belluno in Veneto, generations of specialist manufacturers produce frames for numerous luxury labels, placing this mountainous corner of northern Italy behind some of the world’s most recognisable eyewear. Valenza Handles 70% of Italy’s Gems The Piedmontese district has more than two centuries of jewellery-making heritage, with its creations travelling to markets around the world and making this relatively little-known city a major player in Italian luxury. Glass Beads Made UNESCO’s List Added in 2020, the glass-bead tradition shared by Italy and France is closely associated in Italy with Venetian glassmaking, where artisans have developed elaborate techniques using heated glass and coloured canes to create remarkably detailed beads. 1. 4. 7. 2. 5. 8. 3. 6. 9.
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