During an
afternoon wander through the fascinating
medieval town of Blera I met
two artisans who are
living proof that craftsmen are still alive and well and
creating handicrafts in many of the small towns of Etruria .
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eWKecA0lzUZUhwQJUov15C4egc7tPBJwCuQMOYVQXjJEf1gqodINPCi2EZSsWrg1YIrjU4f4p36IDHCYO8vth5lnQFpskJIX7JVw0DFWNWK7ilCGMZGUhjxjSMpLSCLYmn2Yopb-vP-c/s400/bler+tr+copertina.jpg) |
photo album or sketch book |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG415TWevAEAxl5vW-XvTbAxjlFQwtbIBRCJsmnjJkk5Xs39DUTEc3yXrqUqxkBYwQ3jeooZgORtQlVynlQ3XOffb-6czdJL9cigUupdInXr4ZaCn85KRJ7XGnhcDUO1bDcQwjxcatcEL/s320/blera++trench.jpg) |
Trench creates in leather and stone |
Trench is
the nickname of stone mason/sculptor
and leather artisan Renzo Torelli who we met as he was setting an array of colorful leather objects on a table in the main piazza.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbPnmLBVAaKwLY3EcpCu9gJ_bJw32NxxGLZKNbFTA3fiQoUL1PmDWCeVYH0FVOfqKgNTVjrQBajCbKyXpuIdfOLO_oWqXY_fr4wZMIh8T9_VWFPgZh8xy9-P_Em-okcPtPzzuNxMtEjH8/s400/blera+art+1.jpg) |
leather picture frames |
He confessed that working in leather was a new hobby he had just started up, for his
primary work was that of
stone mason and sculptor. His house at the further end of town was his
calling card, he said.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bAO-5nWn6llLxtT-_10Sio4njkpoVfQHfL_pKrbtbo4rB624yVadGXg_pbrsAQ6i10qh2joocregMRhmlsc2uUrE8DUhnkWCLZcP5QnlKG2i0PYFmytB5RG5-ZVzi6TjQq-EA169OIFJ/s640/blera+doors.jpg) |
doorways of Blera |
That was reason
enough to abandon the noisy central piazza where dozens of hungry people were already lining up to partake of the sagra offering fettuccine con tartufo. (pasta with
truffles)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zddKf28H-rS_TpCj7T-iqoNUQ75_Ivt9j8i8DqmBadRHOsAQWMVbvbCF69MG-XYCrBtZC2wzwAFb-JXCjbyCKCNhYJdva7FIQ2p7yTooQ81zYDVtJqSiBW76K7qdCHez9JLuxrN31wl4/s400/blera+game.jpg) |
waiting for the bouncy games to be blown up |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8nHOAQJSftXaDEYrmBIxLuzrRIhyphenhyphenCAAWNyOlbumS6-Mj7q35Qg1m0ssjFo4hpm_4R8I5-u6Vf0zz7LVP7yKGdV7zOHA0Fu7nQKJ48jD7rXmPmXgR0TevTd-SLwckpVywRE65c-KZrydE/s400/blera+duomo.jpg) |
Blera's Duomo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDidEYo3cZcz9uD3jWeIM7rT6fJYASN9O13VnOUXAeh4vJ784E1qZ4orfsUNlmLjEtgTguEV6hdYr9mBTR1Mmg4Y8DRqWd4HnVPR-iROPnfP6ssGPBwLmYTJa3IDBE0w0Qo9IcQ0-qYEn/s400/blera+escher.jpg) |
Escher inspired stairs of Blera |
Past the
Duomo, through the tiny streets leading
to Porta Marina
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2y-fPUIJfpMhgUjZHZfR2xxUmL7EqEMv8LuNzUIOlDP11Eo2kNnTKjOlABCDzsZZgncwmqdPAAcyBgnR76DqdbagXJ0uyWjghybSJEX_fT7fZdqOuQiQiPYuHEEU1lSRgS-Ed2s5vr-Eo/s640/blera+marina.jpg) |
Porta Marina |
and there
overlooking the lush Etruscan
valley was the house
that Trench had built and
decorated with sculptures, loggias
and Renaissance style windows .
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfV7yrhp5-tevM0GsAmWFfkTSD6ifV5yF9AMwcfGff9of6-QkqyKgUVx7On02D3imSNbL82MohhuKF0TMH1spKYLljlUd9JcI8wqufeify-_5lUHu18Qn0zvIG3adlAf9ZSo12kknBHCy/s400/blera+trench+house.jpg) |
Etruscan style decorations by Trench |
Another
artistic workshop is that of Bernardino Balzi
a soft spoken and eclectic
artist who creates with recycled and found objects.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjsl83DF3nMqmNO9JGuMZKu6mWEdp5PJuEDbmbcxGI4XxDSQ09S8Z4qdB1nImXCG6wRcLkGMDKwKjBZ4BvQeqlIdVGr_Cch7FmLwnaAaIPpQXd5qRsmiehfCW7_WH3o0i3B0NfpfqXZdD/s320/blera+ber+drum.jpg) |
Irish drum in sheep skin |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRCSJKVIVxDe_VJbpZNATl8m7W-7f6iWJQEWRTMo_I4HVfy-vROsFfyZZu0sqdPmS9lbAfFwcngmg6dzmcnH9tJQ9IUSs5zgDhsgJVBvklwI3pkTL9GC-fYfZtD8bczWhnR_FDWVOlQ16/s400/blera+gooseggs.jpg) |
goose eggs make excellent Christmas decorations |
The tiny rooms of his atelier held a plethora of objects including
decorated goose eggs, origiami, sculpture and paintings, all in colorful confusion.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUxVorXbVfcxPHpz3NUozkdaT8w40WI_TC7ilkjmyKNggbD3_sQdocezvCMCrrYZ2CAdk5EbStAdcGnUkJuWkZrTqUgcMWRTjv2z4J_h0nG2J5oz7bSyJ6ww1cue2ZkyK06bcUUqsUX0u/s400/blera+bernardino.jpg) |
hand made books |
For those interested in visiting artisans workshops don't miss the special tour being organized in Viterbo on September 21 by Archeoares . Call today and make your reservation for this free tour. Hope to see you there !
Any special artisans in your town?
Good to hear that Blera is working so hard to promote handicraft industry, I appreciate the initiative. The craft-work snaps that you have given, clearly shows that the people of Blera are really creative minded and can create real masterpieces. Will love to see more.
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