Florence, Italy City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Florence, Italy Travel Guide has been your connection to Florence's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Shopping
 Ardent shoppers absolutely adore exploring the streets of Florence for that special something to bring home. The only problem may be in making a decision on where to begin. Jewelry seems to be on the top of everyone's list, especially gold making the jewelry shops at the edge of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge the perfect stop with their great selection. The best place to find designer labels such as Gucci, Versace or Armani as well as the finest Italian leather goods is in the boutique shops at the Via dei Tornabuoni. Bargain hunters seem to like the designer outlet stores as they offer super discounts and there are sometimes tours available if you're up to it. Most visitors really love the culture and ambiance of the open-air markets. San Lorenzo Market is one of the most popular markets where vendors sell everything from the incredible leather goods to food and flowers. As you continue on your shopping excursion, don't forget to visit a few of the quaint old stores in Florence as well. Check out one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, the Antica Officina di Santa Maria Novella. To this day the pharmacy is still creating perfumes and liquors from 16th century formulas. At the piazza Santa Croce, visitors enjoy browsing through the boutique shops or perhaps spending a few delightful hours at an Italian style Bohemian restaurant or café. |
