Sunset over the Arno River in Florence, Italy - photo by Peter Teoh under CC-BY-SA-3.0
Sunset over the Arno River in Florence, Italy - photo by Peter Teoh under CC-BY-SA-3.0

BEST SHOPPING IN FLORENCE: 10 PLACES TO EXPLORE

Florence is best known for its Renaissance architecture and masterpieces. This creates a splendid backdrop for exploring the retail treasures of this Italian city. Here are some of the places to visit to experience the best shopping in Florence:

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Best Shopping in Florence: Luxury Fashion

Gucci

The first Gucci shop in the city of Florence was opened in 1921. Almost a century later, the brand remains a dominant name in the fashion scene. These days, Gucci has two boutiques in Florence (on Via de’ Tornabuoni and Via Roma), along with a museum and a restaurant.

Salvatore Ferragamo

Via de’ Tornabuoni is home to the medieval palace that houses the flagship store and museum of this world-renowned fashion brand.

VERSACE

This high end Italian fashion label has a shop in Florence where you can browse through the apparel, fragrances and accessories on display.

Best Shopping in Florence: Malls and Department Stores

La Rinascente

La Rinascente in Florence welcomes shoppers to multiple levels of apparel, fashion accessories, beauty products and specialty foods.

The Mall

In Florence, luxury fashion does not have to be ultra-expensive. The Mall has an array of designer-label outlet stores where you can shop for high-end fashion pieces at reasonable prices.

Best Shopping in Florence: Markets

Mercato del Porcellino

In Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, one can find a 16th century gallery that houses various stalls offering all sorts of knick-knacks and leather goods. The market is popularly called Mercato del Porcellino due to the wild boar statue found on one of its ends.

Mercato di San Lorenzo

One of the most famous in Florence, this market is the destination if you are looking for local art and leather goods.

Best Shopping in Florence: Specialty Shops

Il Papiro

Step inside one of the Il Papiro shops in Florence and be amazed with the beauty of the handcrafted stationery on display. Il Papiro has shops on Via dei Tavolini, Piazza del Duomo, Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli and Via de’ Guicciardini, and in Borgo San Lorenzo.

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Known to be one of the oldest worldwide, the Santa Maria di Novella Pharmacy was founded in the early 13th century. Over the centuries, it has included fragrances and beauty products into its line of organic offerings.

Richard Ginori

In Florence, the Ginori name is synonymous with porcelain. The Richard Ginori shop on Via dei Rondinelli is a must-visit if you are looking for beautiful chinaware.  

Best Shopping in Florence: Streets

Ponte Vecchio

Not really a street, Ponte Vecchio is a lovely medieval stone bridge lined with jewelry shops and souvenir stores.

Via de’ Tornabuoni

It’s not difficult to find some luxury retail fix in this street in Florence lined with world-famous shops, including Montblanc, Fendi, Saint Laurent,Tiffany & Co., Burberry, BVLGARI and Céline.

Via dei Calzaiuoli

When it comes to shopping streets, Via dei Calzaiuoli is a favorite among the locals because of its accessibility and the range of shops along it. Here, you’ll find stores offering clothing, fashion accessories, souvenirs, electronics and more.

Via del Corso

Via del Corso might be narrow but it hosts a number of shops that offer different items, like souvenirs, beauty products and antiques.

Via Roma

If you are looking for high end fashion, Via Roma would be your destination. This street is home to shops of some of the biggest names in fashion, such as Gucci, Prada and Emporio Armani.

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