Florence Weather Thu March 18 HI: 55 °F 13 °C LO: 37 °F 3 °C Mostly Sunny Fri March 17 HI: 53 °F 12 °C LO: 43 °F 6 °C Mostly Cloudy Sat March 17 HI: 56 °F 13 °C LO: 48 °F 9 °C Mostly Cloudy Close

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After touring the city and visiting the galleries and palazzos, you probably want to relax and enjoy the famed shops of Florence.

Shopping Centers and Outlet Mall
A great place to start is at the outlet mall in the outskirts of the city. Here you’ll find the best handbag emporium as well as designer names like Prada and Gucci. You can shop for last season’s line of clothing at amazing prices. It’s a great place for saving money while experiencing the fun and excitement of Florence shopping.

The most prestigious of shopping centers for Florence shopping is Coin. It’s a middle-class center catering to every pocket. You’ll find reasonably priced boutiques as well as high end couture.

La Rinascente is an icon of Florence shopping. It’s the ideal place to shop for handicrafts and designer labels.

Arts and Antiques
Visitors enjoy browsing through large collections of antiques at Andrini. You can also purchase replicas of statues made centuries ago. It’s Florence shopping at its best.

Biagotti is not to be a missed Florence shopping experience. This 15th century palazzo is the rage. The gallery displays works of up and coming new artists. These talented individuals are graduates from the renowned academies of Florence.

And if you haven’t maxed out the credit cards with your Florence shopping extravaganza, run to Brancolini. You’ll find unique gifts as well as interesting pieces by established Italian talent.

One of the favorite shops for Florence shopping is Manetti & Masini. They’ve been in business since 1948 creating original ceramics. They’re also known for top of the line porcelain and reproductions of antiques. One of their fortes is restoring authentic articles.

Cheba is another landmark for purchasing pottery items. Their selection of plates decorated with poppies or grapevines is outstanding. They specialize in colorful kitchen accessories.

Tip: Don’t stop yourself from buying a piece that’s too big. Most stores will ship and add a surcharge for insurance.

Another form of art in Florence is the hand-made stationary. You’ll find several artisans along the Ponteveccio who still create paper with their hands. The one boasting the largest selection is Firenze. You’ll find beautiful leather bound journals and address books. You’ll also find hand made photo albums. These are made with the same old fashion technique used in making paper.

Firenze of Papier Mache is a lot of fun to visit. You’ll find all types of hand-painted masks. Some of these are collectibles. A large selection of these is a replica of masks worn by personalities in Italian history.

Markets
The Mercato Centrale stands out as the place to find soft leather at great prices. It’s been around since 1874. It’s a fun place for Florence shopping.

The Mercato Nuovo was constructed in the 16th century. You can find everything you want in rugs, handbags, tablecloths and souvenirs. It’s the site of the piglet fountain. Legend has it that if you throw a coin down the pig’s mouth you’ll return to Florence to find true love. Make sure you do. You’ll want to come back for more Florence shopping.