There are a whole host of wonderful cities across Tuscany filled with incredible architecture. The beauty around you can make it hard to concentrate on serious shopping. However, there is some fantastic shopping opportunities for those serious shopaholics amongst you.
Florence is probably the city that springs to mind most when you think of shopping for fashion in this part of Italy. The principal shopping street is the Via de’ Tornabuoni. Here you’ll find the showrooms of Italy’s top fashion designers. These include Prada, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Vavalli and Ferragamo. Of course, the city also offers lots of opportunities for cheaper priced shopping too. For those on a tighter budget, there are high street stores in abundance. You’ll also find a couple of department stores in the centre of the city.
The two other main cities worth a visit if you’re looking to spend a few hours around the shops are Pisa and Siena.
The main shopping area in Pisa is centred around the Corso Italia and the Via Borgo Stretto. These two streets are divided by the River Arno that runs between them. Of course, you can’t head to Pisa without experiencing the main tourist attractions such as the Leaning Tower. The shops and stalls around that area of the city tend to very much concentrate on selling the typical tourist souvenirs. As a result, it’s worth heading further afield to find more interesting and specialised stores.
Siena has some wonderful shops. Window shopping will certainly be a pleasure in this beautiful city. In Siena, the main shopping streets include the Via di Citta, Banchi di Sopra and Via Dei Montanini. All three streets have some wonderful shops and boutiques. Siena may not have the reputation for fashion that a lot of other Italian cities has. But, it certainly puts plenty of effort into the creation of beautiful window displays!
Do remember that, whilst opening times are beginning to change, some shops may still close over lunch. They then re-open again at around 15.30 and then stay open longer than they would in the UK, normally closing around 19.30.
If you’re heading to Italy to find bargains, then the sales tend to be held in July and February each year. At this time, the majority of stores will reduce prices from 20% to 50%. If you’re looking for a bargain at other times of the year, then it’s worth heading to one of the outlet malls in Tuscany. They’ll offer discounts on designer brands all year round. In addition, they will also have a great sale during the summer to make room for the new stock coming in.
Take your pick from McArthurGlen’s Barberino Designer Outlet north of Florence or try The Mall to the south of the city. At both, you will find plenty of designer labels including Alexander McQueen, Armani, Burberry and Fendi. In addition brands include Gucci, Hogan, Stella McCartney, Tod’s, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent. Both malls offer designer brands at fraction of their normal prices. You might also want to head to the Valdichiana outlet where shoppers can find discounts of up to 70% on designer brands.
Each main town and city in Tuscany also has markets to enjoy. A visit to each of these cities wouldn’t be complete without a trip to at least one of the markets. The smaller towns and villages in Tuscany will also have their own markets. All of these offer visitors a great opportunity to get a feel for Italian culture and practise those Italian language skills!
Siena holds a lively market every Wednesday in front of the Fortezza, selling everything from clothing to fruit to local crafts.
In Florence, there is the Mercato Nuovo. This is also known as the Mercato del Porcellino because of the bronze boar – ‘Il Porcellino’ – that stands in the loggia. In addition, there is the Mercato Centrale in Florence, Europe’s largest covered food hall, and another smaller food market – the Mercato di Sant’ Ambrogio. The streets around the Mercato Centrale are also full of stalls selling anything from shoes to belts.
Finally, in Pisa, there are also a number of markets to choose from. Every Wednesday and Saturday, there are markets in both Via Buonarroti and Via San Martino. Both sell clothes and housewares. Alternatively, for food lovers, there is a fantastic daily market held in the Piazza delle Vettovaglie, just off the Via Borgo Stretto.
If you’re looking for a unique antique to take home with you, each main town will also have an antiques or bric a brac market that you can browse around too. In Siena, the Piazza del Mercato is the venue for an antiques market on the third Sunday of every month.. If you’re more into antiques and bric a brac, then head to the Mercato delle Pulci in the Piazza dei Compi. In Pisa, the antiques market is held on the second weekend of each month at the Ponti di Mezzo.
