Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOILETRIES
Burani
and designer under-
wear at
La Perla
, while young-
er styles can be found at
Gioel
and
Intimissimi
.
Luisa Via Roma
and
Raspini
stock top-designer clothing
and shoes, while
Eredi Chiarini
and
Matucci
have more casual
styles.
Emilio Pucci
(see p88)
,
famous for his extravagant
1960s print clothes is in Via
de' Tornabuoni.
There are opulent hand-
woven fabrics, fine silks and
vintage fabrics at
Casa dei
Tessuti
, and embroidered
linen can be found at
Ta f
.
Those looking for discounts
on Italian designer clothing
and shoes should venture
out to
The Mall
or
Barberino
Designer Outlet
. Both
these outlets are located
approximately 30 minutes
away from Florence so
require a special trip.
For toiletries and beauty
products head to a
profume-
ria
(perfumery), such as
Aline
,
Profumeria Inglese
or
Le Vanita'
, which also has a
beauty centre and solarium.
Erboristerie
(herbalists) sell a
range of natural products. Try
the
Erboristeria di Palazzo
Vecchio
(see p75)
for unique
handmade perfumes. The
Erboristeria Inglese
on Via de'
Tornabuoni dispenses natural
remedies and tisanes, and
stocks natural beauty products,
perfumes and gifts. Also worth
a visit is the
Farmacia di Santa
Maria Novella
, a frescoed
apothecary, selling products
from the elixirs of the
Camaldoli monks to perfumes,
herbal remedies and sweets.
Trendy sandals at Ferragamo
shoes and sandals, or
Quercioli
for high quality hand-stitched
leather shoes for both men
and women. The mid-priced
range is well represented by
Romano
, which stocks
collections of shoes and boots
in good-quality leather. For
more casual and sporty styles,
try the reasonably-priced
Peluso
. Alternatively stroll
down Via de' Cerretani,
which houses many affordable
shoe shops including the
popular
Divarese
.
JEWELLERY
LEATHER GOODS
Florence has always been
noted for its gold and sliver-
smiths. Go to
Torrini
, whose
family has produced jewellery
for six centuries, and to
Pommellato's
stunning shop
on Via de' Tornabuoni, for its
famous chunky white gold
rings with huge semi-precious
gems.
Bulgari
is on the same
street, and so is
Parenti
, which
has beautiful Baccarat rings
and unique antique jewels. Try
Aprosio & Co
. for decorative
jewellery made from precious
metals and tiny glass stones.
The tiny wooden shops
on the Ponte Vecchio
(see
pp106-7)
are all jewellery
shops, some with beautiful
antiques from Italy and abroad,
others with high-quality new
Italian gold pieces.
Piazza di Santa Croce
(see
pp72-3)
and the adjoining
streets are filled with leather
shops and workshops. Inside
the cloisters of the church
itself is the
Scuola del Cuoio
,
where leather craftsmen work
in front of the customers.
Classic leather bags and gifts
are sold at
Bojola
,
Il Bisonte
and
Beltrami
, and more
contemporary styles can
be found at
Coccinelle
and
Furla
.
Peruzzi
stocks leather
clothing and accessories for
men and women. The best
place to buy gloves is
Madova
. For good value
bags, belts and leather jackets
try the
Mercato di San Lorenzo
or the market stalls in Via
Pellicceria
(see p287)
.
Classic leather goods at Beltrami
SHOES
Italy is renowned worldwide
for its shoes and, with the
local Tuscan tanneries, there
is nowhere better than
Florence to find footwear for
all tastes. Some shops design
and make classic shoes by
hand in-store, while others
stock huge collections of new
styles for each season.
At the top end, the refined
finishing and elegance of
Ferragamo's
shoes are sought-
after by Hollywood stars, and
Gucci
and
Prada
are both
meccas for admirers of
designer Italian shoes. If you
prefer more classic styles
then head across the Arno
to
Francesco
, a tiny shop that
sells simple handmade
A vibrant array of fabrics in Casa dei Tessuti, Florence
