Studio Moretti Caselli, Perugia

A highlight in Perugia was the tour my family and I had at the Moretti Caselli Stained Glass Studio. The tour was very informative, the host was incredibly hospitable, and the work could have hardly been more beautiful. My favorite part of the tour took us into the space that served as an art studio, props room, and storage space for the full-sized "cartoons" (i.e. tracings) of the final designs. There were also samples of finished work on view. The work of the studio stretches back five generations since the 1850s and is found not only in local churches, but around the world. We'd seen several of their windows in Assisi the day before, and in a post-studio tour we admired other works in Perugia's main duomo. After already spending time looking at Italian art stretching back for centuries, it was fascinating to be exposed to the creativity and craft so relatively fresh and close up.

Fascinating tour of an incredible, true "old world" family workshop and studio. Call ahead to book a tour, you may need to call several times to get someone on the phone, as it is the owners who provide the tours. Amazing history of stained glass innovations starting with Francesco Moretti and his nephew in the 1870's. The stained glass portrait of Queen Marguerite of Savoy will take your breath away.