A city of medieval palaces and squares, interesting museums and galleries, magnificent parks and gardens, Florence is popular not only with connoisseurs of art and architectural beauty, but also with shopping enthusiasts. In the capital of Tuscany there are a great many shops that can satisfy the needs of even the most spoiled shopaholics: boutiques of famous designers - both Italian and European, large shopping centers, department stores, small private shops, markets and, of course, outlets.
Helpful advice: Before we go directly to the outlets, we want to say a few words about the most useful audio guide in the center of Florence for the iPhone link.
It contains a ready-made audio tour and covers all the most famous places in the city. The audio guide works even without the Internet and has a built-in map with GPS to track your location and easily find excursion points.
A trial version of the tour with 5 objects is available for free immediately after downloading, and the full version contains 56 objects and costs only a few dollars. An audio guide will save you hundreds of euros on live guides and excursions. You can install a free trial on your iPhone on this page.
What to buy in outlets of Florence
Both in Florence itself and in its environs, leather production is superbly developed, Florentine leather products, thanks to excellent quality and assortment, have long won the recognition of European fashionistas and women of fashion.
Florence outlets present collections of leather goods of well-known brands, as well as Italian-made items of the middle segment at prices 30-60% lower than in ordinary shops and boutiques.
Here you can buy excellent leather jackets, jackets, raincoats, trousers from past collections, as well as all kinds of accessories - fashion bags, belts, wallets, gloves.
Outlets in Florence have a huge selection of fashionable clothes of the middle price category
It is worth paying attention to the clothes of Italian manufacturers, popular among Italians, but little known outside the country. Outlets in Florence have a huge selection of beautiful and fashionable women's, men's, and children's clothes of an average price category, the quality of which is always at their best.
In addition to clothes here, like other outlets in Italy, excellent leather shoes, cosmetics and perfumes, accessories and jewelry, electronics, household appliances, and all kinds of household goods deserve attention.
In more detail about where and what to buy during a trip to the capital of Tuscany, BlogoItaliano already wrote in an article Shopping in Florence.
Florence Outlets and Sales Season
Prices in outlets are not too dependent on the seasons, throughout the year they are already 30-70% lower than in city stores. However, in the sales season, when prices are reduced in all stores in the country, shopping at outlets can be even more pleasant.
Outlet prices are 30-70% lower than in city stores
Recall that winter sales in Italy last from January to February, and summer sales from July to August; during these periods, prices in Florentine shops and outlets are reduced so much that for a very small amount you can not only update the wardrobe of the whole family, but also buy gifts for relatives and friends.
Top Outlets in Florence
In the vicinity of Florence there are several outlets that deserve attention. These are, first of all, McArthurGlen Barberino, Mall Outlet and Valdichiana Outlet Village, as well as I Gigli shopping center, where you can also find a nice assortment of fashion items with good discounts.
McArthurGlen Barberino
McArthurGlen Barberino is the largest outlet in the vicinity of Florence, and is popular with both tourists and Italians themselves.
This outlet is located in the town of Barberino, 30 kilometers from the capital of Tuscany. On its territory there are about 120 stores where you can buy clothes of famous brands: Adidas, Prada, Calvin Klein Jeans, Michael Kors, Fornarina and many others, as well as jewelry, accessories, perfumes, electronics.
Prices for branded items from past collections have been reduced by 30-70%. In addition, stores periodically hold promotions and sales, during which prices are reduced even more significantly.
The largest McArthurGlen Barberino is 30 km from Florence
The Barberino Outlet is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The outlet does not work on January 1, December 25 and 26, and also on Easter.
A special shuttle bus runs from the city to the Barberino outlet several times a day. Routes depart from a stop at Santa Maria Novella Station at 9:30, 11:30, 14:00 and 16:00. The location of the shuttle stop can be seen on the map below.
You can return to the city with the same buses: they depart from the outlet at 13:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 20:00. A return ticket for adults costs 13 Euros, for teenagers from 14 to 16 years old - 8 Euros, under 14 years old - free of charge. Tickets can be purchased online on this page.
| Check schedule and availability of tickets ››› |
There is also a regular bus service between Barberino and Florence, buses leave the bus station every hour, travel time is 40 minutes.
Mall outlet
Mall outlet - The second most popular outlet in Florence, located 40 minutes from the capital of Tuscany, in the small town of Lecchio.
This outlet presents clothes and accessories of mainly luxury brands, including Valentino, Fendi, Sergio Rossi, Emanuel Ungaro, Giorgio Armani, Emilio Puci with traditional discounts reaching 70%.
Outlet Mall has a cozy cafe where you can have a bite to eat and relax a bit between shopping trips.
Mall Outlet presents clothing and accessories of famous Italian brands
Outlet Mall is open from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., during the summer season - from June to August - opening hours usually increase by 1 hour - up to 20 hours.
You can get to the outlet with specialized buses that leave from the stop at Santa Caterina da Siena, 17 - next to the main train station Santa Maria Novella. Every day about 15 flights are carried out in each direction. A round-trip ticket will cost 13 Euros.
Valdichiana Outlet Village
Valdichiana Outlet Village is a large outlet located 100 kilometers from Florence in Foiano della Chiana.
This is a whole trading town, on the territory of which there are more than 160 shops of clothes, cosmetics, perfumes, goods for home and leisure, jewelry, as well as a play park for children, many bars and cafes.
The Valdichiana Outlet Village often hosts concerts, theatrical performances, wine and Italian tastings.
Valdichiana Outlet Village has over 160 stores
The Valdichiana Village outlet is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On holidays, the New Year, Christmas and Easter, the shopping center does not work.
You can take a train from Florence to Valdichiana Outlet Village - it leaves from Santa Maria Novella Train Station to Arezzo, where you need to take a bus to the outlet.
I gigli
I Gigli is a fairly large shopping center in the suburbs of Florence in the town of Campi Bisenzio. It housed more than a hundred clothing stores of well-known brands: Benetton, Zara, Calvin Klein, Max & Co, Coin, as well as Leroy Merlin and Panorama hypermarkets. Discounts on products presented in stores reach 50% and are valid throughout the year.
I Gigli Shopping Center has over a hundred well-known clothing stores
You can get to I Gigli Outlet from the central station by bus or taxi, the cost of which will be quite adequate, since the distance from the city to the outlet is about 10 kilometers.
Other useful articles:
- Santa Maria Novella - Florence Central Station
- Florence: the most romantic center hotels: TOP-5 Blogoitaliano
- How to get from Milan to Florence and from Florence to Milan
- Uffizi Gallery - Italy's most visited museum
- How to get from Rome to Florence and from Florence to Rome
Photos by: italia.it, lonelyplanet.com, notizieinabruzzo.it, villeinitalia.com, viaggiarte.com, altervista.org.
