Tvoi Concierge
Florence is famous for the Uffizi and the Duomo, but it is also one of Europe's most refined shopping cities. On a single street you will find the flagships of the great fashion houses next to tiny workshops where leather, shoes and jewellery are still made by hand. This guide takes you from the windows of Via de Tornabuoni to the artisan ateliers, out to the designer outlets beyond the city, and through the practical details such as the VAT refund and private after-hours appointments.
Via de Tornabuoni and the great fashion houses
Via de Tornabuoni, with neighbouring Via della Vigna Nuova and Via dello Studio, is Florence's golden mile. Here the flagships of Gucci, Ferragamo, Prada, Cavalli and others fill historic palazzi. Gucci and Ferragamo were born in Florence, so their local boutiques often carry capsules and pieces you will not see elsewhere. Weekday mornings are calmer, and a personal shopper can arrange in advance to meet the boutique's own stylist.
Artisan ateliers: leather, shoes and bespoke tailoring
The real soul of Florentine shopping lies in its workshops. Around Santa Croce and the Oltrarno you will find leather artisans stitching bags and briefcases in front of you, shoemakers building footwear on a personal last, and tailors cutting a made-to-measure suit over several fittings. These pieces are commissioned ahead of time: bespoke shoes or a suit take weeks, so plan the first visit with time to spare.
Ponte Vecchio and the goldsmith tradition
Since the sixteenth century the Ponte Vecchio has belonged to jewellers and goldsmiths. Under the arcades of the old bridge you find family shops selling antique pieces and workshops that create jewellery to order. It is worth looking beyond the windows: many masters receive clients in private rooms upstairs, show loose stones and sketches, and make one-off pieces for a specific occasion, from an engagement ring to a family brooch.
Santa Maria Novella and Florentine fragrance
The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the world's oldest pharmacies and perfumeries, founded by Dominican friars. In its frescoed halls beside the basilica it sells perfumes, waters, soaps and balms made to centuries-old recipes. It is the quintessential Florentine gift and a lasting keepsake. Nearby, younger niche perfumers will also compose a bespoke scent for you.
The Mall and the designer outlets outside the city
Half an hour from the centre, at Leccio Reggello, sits The Mall Firenze: an elegant outlet village with boutiques from Gucci, Prada, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and more, often with past-season pieces. Further on, at Montevarchi, is the celebrated Prada outlet, known as Space. It is easiest to go with a driver, so you are not tied to a shuttle timetable and can bring your purchases back without any hassle.
VAT refund, private fittings and delivery
Visitors from outside the EU can reclaim the VAT (tax free) on larger purchases: ask the boutique for a tax free form, keep the tags, and process the refund at the airport when you leave the EU. For unhurried shopping, boutiques arrange private after-hours fittings, champagne and a personal stylist. Large or fragile pieces, such as furniture or a chandelier, can be shipped to your home directly by the house.
What to check before you shop
- Set your priorities: boutiques, bespoke ateliers or outlets
- Book private fittings and stylist appointments in advance
- Allow weeks for bespoke pieces to be made and delivered
- Carry your passport so boutiques can issue tax free forms
- Keep tax free receipts and tags for the airport VAT refund
- Arrange a driver for The Mall and the Prada outlet
- Ask about shipping large or fragile purchases home
- Plan weekday mornings for a calmer, quieter visit
Let us arrange your shopping day
We book boutiques and ateliers, introduce you to the artisans, arrange a driver to the outlets and help with the VAT refund. Message us and we will handle it all.