Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio
It's possible to strike gold at this lively market, where clothing stalls abut those with fruits and vegetables.
7 Best Places to Shop in Florence, Italy
Window-shopping in Florence is like visiting an enormous contemporary art gallery. Many of today's greatest Italian artists are fashion designers, and most keep shops in Florence. Discerning shoppers may find bargains in the street markets. Do not buy any knockoff goods from any of the hawkers plying their fake Prada (or any other high-end designer) on the streets. It's illegal, and fines are astronomical if the police happen to catch you. (You pay the fine, not the vendor.)
Shops are generally open 9 to 1 and 3:30 to 7:30, and are closed Sunday and Monday mornings most of the year. Summer (June to September) hours are usually 9 to 1 and 4 to 8, and some shops close Saturday afternoon instead of Monday morning. When looking for addresses, you'll see two color-coded numbering systems on each street. The red numbers are commercial addresses and are indicated, for example, as 31/r. The blue or black numbers are residential addresses. Most shops take major credit cards and ship purchases, but because of possible delays it's wise to take your purchases with you.
The usual fashion suspects—Prada, Gucci, Versace, to name but a few—all have shops in Florence. But if you want to buy Florentine in Florence, stick to Gucci, Pucci, and Ferragamo.
Bargains on Italian designer clothing can be found outside the city.
Le Cascine's open-air market
Held every Tuesday morning, this market includes stalls selling food, bargain clothing, and gadgets. It's an easy walk from the Centro Storico.
Mercato Centrale
This huge indoor food market offers a staggering selection of all things edible. Downstairs is full of vendors hawking their wares—meat, fish, fruit, vegetables—upstairs (daily 8 am–midnight) is full of food stalls serving up an array of Italian and international foods.
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Mercato dei Fiori e Piante
Every Thursday morning from September through June the covered loggia in Piazza della Repubblica hosts this lively market—a riot of plants, flowers, and difficult-to-find herbs.
Mercato del Porcellino
If you're looking for cheery, inexpensive trinkets to take home, roam through the stalls under the loggia of the Mercato del Porcellino.
Mercato di San Lorenzo
The clothing and leather-goods stalls at Mercato di San Lorenzo in the streets next to the San Lorenzo church have bargains for shoppers on a budget.
Santo Spirito Markets
The second Sunday of every month brings the Oltrarno Arts and Crafts Market in Piazza Santo Spirito with clothing, antiques, and homewares. On the third Sunday of the month, vendors at the La Fierucola in the piazza sell such delectables as honeys, jams, spice mixes, and fresh vegetables.
