Footwear from Ancient Greece to Haute Couture at Palazzo Pitti

The exhibition 'Ai piedi degli dei' at Palazzo Pitti's Museo della Moda e del Costume in Florence traces the history of footwear from the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD. Curated by Lorenza Camin, Caterina Chiarelli, and Fabrizio Paolucci, it features about 80 pieces including Greek courtesan sandals, Roman soldier caligae, patrician shoes, and contemporary fashion icons from brands like Emilio Pucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Céline, Donna Karan, and Yves Saint Laurent. Paolucci, curator and director of the Uffizi's Department of Antiquities, notes that Plato considered shoemaking a science and that shoes historically conveyed gender, economic status, social position, and occupation. The exhibition aims to restore the shoe's role as a document of Greco-Roman taste and technique. A video installation by Gianmarco D'Agostino of Advaita Film merges archaeology, fashion, and cinema. The show runs until April 19, 2020.