From the fine workmanship of office and craft products to gold and leather, Florence is the ideal destination for the sophisticated customer. BlogoItaliano tried to pick up some ideas on where to go in order to buy the best that Florence has to offer.
To buy things and household items affordable for mere mortals, you should raid the streets around Piazza della Repubblica, such as, for example, Via Calimala. The local assortment is designed for a more balanced buyer, although the choice of stores is also quite wide.
High fashion shopping
If you are looking for something special from clothes, then stores of brands such as Gucci, Pucci, Ferragamo and (the last two, by the way, come from Florence) and others are abundantly represented on Via Tornabuoni, Via della Vigna Nuova and Via dei Calzaiuoli. These streets in the Santa Maria Novella area are known throughout Florence as the island of the latest Fashion trends from Italian and international fashion houses.
Open Markets and Antiques in Florence
Open markets are very popular in Florence with the most famous of them - Mercato Centrale, located in San Lorenzo area.
A fantastic variety of food is sold here, most of which is locally produced - meat, cheeses, olives, bread and countless other goodies that can fill a picnic basket.
Sellers of leather goods, clothing, ceramics and other inedibles have occupied the area around the Mercato Centrale and there is also something to see. Another similar place in Florence is Mercato Nuovo, near the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
Jeweler benches on the Ponte Vecchio bridge
On the other side of the Arno River, Piazza Santo Spirito is also a place known for its selection of clothes, accessories, jewelry and more. Every second Sunday of the month, the art and craft market also works here, which is also worth a visit to lovers of unusual purchases.
Even further away from the hiking trails, the Parco delle Cascine market, open weekly on Tuesdays, is worth mentioning. This market is jam-packed, in principle, with the same categories as described above, but will allow you to plunge deeper into local specifics and, often, experience a more attractive pricing policy.
Special purchases in Florence
In addition to designer items and various antiques, Florence can offer a number of special souvenirs. Leather products are especially widely represented here.
And although the choice of the latter is really very wide here, it is worth mentioning separately the leather workshop in Santa Croce (in the same place as the basilica of the same name), famous for its traditions and assortment from jackets and belts to unusual leather bookmarks.
Another church where you can also find an unusual souvenir is Santa Maria Novella. A pharmacy has been operating here since the 13th century, having its own production of perfumes and household chemicals, made according to ancient recipes.
As for gold and jewelry, the most famous location for such shopping in florence is the Ponte Vecchio bridge. And although the prices here cannot be called sparing, nevertheless, in the presented assortment you can find really high-quality necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches, rings and much more.
