Umbrian handicraft has ancient roots and ranges from wood to lacemaking, to pottery, up to wrought-iron, with a large number of workshops in the whole Region.
Because of a huge number of woods with fine trees, such as ashes, cherry tree, durmasts and walnuts, Todi area has developed and proved great skills in working such material.
Handcraft has moved along two parallel tracks: on the one hand mass handcraft, linked with daily life objects or farm tools, on the other educated handcraft from inlay work to the decoration of the interior of churches and palaces.
The two ligneous choirs of the Cathedral and the Church of St. Fortunato are noteworthy. They were made in the 16th century and respectively commissioned to Bencivegna da Mercatello and Antonio Maffei da Gubbio. Both the artists wanted to be flanked exclusively by local craftsmen to accomplish their work, as clear evidence of Todi inhabitants’ skills since ancient times.
Along the town roads, workshops of period furniture, of refined ebonists and of skilful woodcarvers, inlay workers, sculptors and restorers keep alive a very ancient tradition, passed on from generation to generation.
The special handcrafted works, from small pieces of furniture to furnishings, with attention to details, resemble rare antiques.