Florence shopping also includes wandering around markets where prices can often be cheaper, such as the open-air San Lorenzo Market, in Piazza San Lorenzo, where you can find copies of many designer products. It takes place every day, except Mondays in winter. Nearby there is a covered food market where you will find olives, hams, cheeses and fresh vegetables, which is open from 07:00-14:00 Monday to Saturday. There is a flea market in Piazza dei Ciompi which sells antiques and collectable items. It is open daily, except for Sundays and Mondays in winter.

There are various specialist shops here worth a visit while in Florence, such as the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. It was founded by monks in the 16th century and is an old fashioned chemist with exquisite herbal lotions and potions. Handmade shoes on the other hand can be obtained at Francesco, and if stationary is what you are after, visit Pineider, which is considered the most exclusive stationers in Italy. It has designed stationary for Byron, Napoleon and other famous names.

Venturing outside Florence you will come across a whole host of fashion outlets offering discounted designer produce, such as The Mall, which can be easily reached by car, train or by Shuttle Bus from Florence. There is a wide choice here of clothes and accessories from past seasons Agnona, Bottega Veneta, Emanuel Ungaro, Ermenegildo Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, La Perla, Loro Piana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Tod's, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent outlets.

Florence Ponte Vecchio (Vecchio Bridge)

The Florence Ponte Vecchio (Vecchio Bridge; Between Via de 'Guicciardini and Via Por Santa Maria), a 4th century bridge is famous for its length lined with gold and silversmiths, a tourist trap in other words. This was not always the case though as before Cosimo de Medici made room for a higher class of trader there were butchers lining the street. Above the shops, there is a passageway known as Corrodoio Vasariano, which links the Uffizi Gallery to the Pitti Palace. This passageway was built for the immensely rich Medici family who didn’t want to have to mix with the locals, going from one palace to the other. It is lined with portraits of greatest artists from Florence but is only open to the public occasionally. Consult the Florence Local Tourist Office for details.

Shops generally open between 0930-1300 and 1530-2000 Monday to Saturday, with some bigger department stores open all day. Clothes shops are closed Monday mornings, while food shops close Wednesday afternoons and sometimes Saturday afternoons in summer.

Useful Information and links:

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
http://www.smnovella.com/
via Scala, 16
50123 Firenze
Tel: + 39 055 216 276
Fax: + 39 055 288 658
E-mail: officina@smnovella.com

Francesco
Via Santo Spirito 62r

Antiche Officine Pineider srl
http://www.anticheofficinepineider.it/
Piazza Signoria 13/14 r,
50122 Firenze
Tel: + 39 055 624 0224
Tel: + 39 055 624 0226
Fax: + 39 055 696 973
E-mail:info@anticheofficinepineider.it

San Lorenzo market
http://www.sanlorenzo-market.com/index.cfm
E-mail: info@sanlorenzo-market.cominfo@sanlorenzo-market.com

Fashion Outlets Florence

The Mall Outlet Centre
Via Europa 8
50060 Leccio Reggello
Florence
Open: 10:00-19:00h Monday to Saturday, 15:00-19:00h Sunday.

Information Centre
Tel: + 39 055 865 7775
Fax: + 39 055 865 7801
E-mail:info@design-management.it
Open: 09:00-18:00h Monday to Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Fendi Outlet Florence
Via Pian Dell'isola 66/33
Rignano S/A
Florence
Tel: + 39 055 834 981
Fax: + 39 055 834 9820

Dolce e Gabbana Outlet Florence
Località S. Maria Maddalena, 49
Pian dell'Isola
Rignano Sull'Arno
Florence
Tel: + 39 055 833 1300
Fax: + 39 055 833 1301
Open: 09:00-19:00h Monday to Saturday, 03:00-19:00h Sunday.

Prada Outlet Florence
Località Levanella S.S.69
52025 Montevarchi
Arezzo
Tel: + 39 055 91901

Tuscan’s Creations Outlet Florence
Tuscan's Creations is a leading Italian producer of handbags made from nappa and python.
Via Corridoni, 20/22
Ponte a Egola
Pisa
Tel/Fax: + 39 571 49424