The Italian Ambassador to Serbia, Luca Gori, took part in the new edition of “Salon of Excellence – Florence Edition”, an initiative dedicated to the excellence of Italian artistic craftsmanship and savoir-faire, organised by DeGorsi Luxury Consulting in collaboration with the Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade, as part of the celebrations for Made in Italy Day.
Following the success of previous editions dedicated to Naples and Venice, this year the Salon of Excellence brought the spirit of Florence to Belgrade, a city that is a universal symbol of art, elegance and outstanding craftsmanship. During the gala evening held at the Ambassador’s Residence, alongside the screening of the film I Colori di Antonio by director Gianluca Migliarotti, the Serbian public had the opportunity to meet some of the most prestigious representatives of contemporary Italian craftsmanship and luxury. They were featured in a programme combining culture, fashion, design, high-end manufacturing and wine-making tradition.
Among the leading participants in the 2026 edition were iconic names of Made in Italy such as Ginori 1735, the historic artistic porcelain manufacturer; Marchesi Antinori, one of the world’s oldest wine dynasties; Liverano & Liverano, a symbol of great Florentine menswear tailoring; Stefano Bemer, the Florentine maison specialising in handmade bespoke shoes; Scuola del Cuoio, the renowned Florentine institution dedicated to artisanal leatherworking; Farmacia SS. Annunziata 1561, the historic Florentine company specialising in artistic perfumery and cosmetics; and Marina Calamai, a Florentine artist and designer who combines contemporary art, sculpture and handcrafted jewellery.
The programme also included the symposium “Florentine Masters of Craftsmanship in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, hosted on 13 May at the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade and dedicated to the relationship between creativity, artisanal tradition and technological innovation. At the same venue, an exhibition dedicated to Florentine masters of craftsmanship was also inaugurated and will remain open to the public until 21 May.
“Craftsmanship represents one of the most authentic expressions of Italy’s cultural and economic identity. Through initiatives such as Salon of Excellence – which has now reached its third edition, following those dedicated to Naples and Venice – we aim to promote in Serbia not only the value of Made in Italy, but also a vision founded on creativity, quality, education and the transmission of knowledge between generations,” said the Italian Ambassador to Serbia, Luca Gori. “Florence,” he added, “continues even today to be a universal symbol of this excellence.”