Vicenza, the queen of gold. Italy is the world leader in the gold sector and Vicenza is the most important national district of production. It is therefore natural to call this Province the “queen of gold”, because thousands of firms that contribute to spreading the charm of “Made in Italy” precious goods have their head office in Vicenza. The success of the local gold sector is based on a centuries old tradition. Consider that the first written testimony on the importance of this sector in the Province goes back to the middle of the 14th century, when the articles of association of the Vicenza Goldsmiths’ Guild were signed, which was the corporation that united some 150 craftsmen who were professional goldsmiths, out of a population of 20 thousand inhabitants. In the past, the productive capacity and creative inspiration of goldsmith craftsmen were the strong points of the sector, and this is still so today in the Province of Vicenza, where many of the most important names in the international panorama originate: heirs to Valerio Belli, the great Renaissance goldsmith, who was an intimate friend of Michelangelo and Raffaello and was cited for his mastery by Vasari in his book “Vite” (“Lives”). From tradition to innovation: the presence of an important district of companies involved in the construction of goldsmith machinery has enabled the sector to remain at the technological vanguard of the industry, also facilitating the birth of many industrial realities, capable of uniting the fundamental characteristics of Vicenza’s goldsmithery, made up of design and quality, with ponderous productive capabilities. With 1,160 enterprises, almost 11 thousand employed persons, a turnover of 3,467 million EUR and exports of 1,370 million EUR, gold is one of the Vicenza’s economy’s leading sectors. Vicenza jewellery, in fact, is proudly displayed in the most prestigious jewellery shops in over 120 countries on five continents. The productive district is spread throughout the Province territory, but the areas of Trissino and Bassano del Grappa are the two most important areas of production. The sector is able to promote the refined elegance and originality of Vicenza’s gold creations through the two strategic international showcases of the VicenzaOro and Orogemma trade fair events.

Business units	1.160
Staff	11.230
Turnover	3.467 million €
Exports	1.373 million €