“At the Feet of the Gods. Footwear from Classical Times to the Modern Era” is the name of the exhibition that will commence on 16 December at the Palazzo Pitti Museum of Costume and Fashion in Florence. The exhibition starts from the classical world, presenting the main types of footwear used between the 5th and 4th centuries BC with finds from archaeological digs in northern Europe. Depictions on reliefs, figured vases and statues fill out and expand on the archaeological evidence, flanked by a special section that explores the story of ancient footwear in 20th century culture through two complementary channels: fashion and cinema. The former will alternate models of the last century’s leading designers – including names of the calibre of Givenchy, Anne Klein, Donna Karan, Salvatore Ferragamo, René Caovilla, Fendi, and Emilio Pucci. Alongside these models will be featured the models of Italy’s most celebrated manufacturer of footwear for the cinema, including Pompei Shoes, as
genuine protagonists of some of the epic “sword-and-sandal” movies that became genuine cult films:  from Cleopatra to Quo Vadis, Ben Hur and The Gladiator.
The exhibition is curated by Lorenza Camin, Caterina Chiarelli, and Fabrizio Paolucci.