Florence Shopping Guide

Written by a local resident, the Florence Shopping Guide gives you insider information about the best places to shop in Florence. With a special focus on made-in-Italy goods at fair prices, this guide is a must for visitors who want quality Italian goods without overpaying. Don’t fall into the trap of just going down the main streets and ending up in mostly touristy stores which probably don't guarantee competitive prices or high quality. Now you can buy goods from the most authentic shops, the places where the locals go. This comprehensive yet easy-to-follow guide is also a celebration of Florence’s world renowned craftsmen and women: find out where to buy directly from the leather workers, goldsmiths, cobblers, stylists and tailors, ceramics artists, and a wealth of other creative artisans all working to rigorously uphold the artistic traditions which Florence is known for worldwide. If you want to find out about the most characteristic shops selling authentic goods such as hand-made leather goods (bags, jackets, wallets, boxes, shoes, belts, etc), originally designed and hand-sewn clothing, Florentine paper goods, hand-made and painted Tuscan and Florentine ceramics, 18 carat gold jewelry in the Florentine style, and more, all at honest prices, this guide is for you. And of course, no insider guide on Florence shopping would be complete without Italian and Florentine designer names. Find out where to find bargains on Gucci, Ferragamo, Pucci, Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and countless others. Whether you’re interested in vintage designer items, stock brand names from outlet centers or brand new top-of-the-line labels the Florence Shopping Guide will help you find the best places to go. There’s also everything you need to know about all types of local markets, outlet stores (both in-town and outside Florence), hand-made accessories, hand-sewn linens, Florentine mosaics, vintage shops, historic shops, a special sections dedicated to ‘the not-to-be-missed shops’ and ‘fringe shopping’ (for adventurous visitors who want to explore the ‘off the beaten track’ areas). Not just about shops, you’ll also find out all the handy information that you’ll need to get around such as where to get free maps, bus and taxi tips, best time of the year to shop and more. In short, the Florence Shopping Guide is the only help you’ll need to navigate the vast and varied Florence shopping scene.