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Shopping in Italy is much more than just checking out numerous shops. This is also an anti-stress remedy, lifestyle and enjoyable experience for many of us.
Where else can you purchase high-quality leather goods (shoes, jackets, bags), excellent stylish clothing, knitted fabrics, beautiful underwear, jewelry, souvenirs and much more other things at the most attractive rates?
Of course, you can do it only in Italy, and Florence is a very suitable destination for that.
Why Florence is the perfect choice for shopping?
Florence is famous for its leather industry. And Florence’ outlets are well-known for their reasonable prices – they are usually half cheaper than in the other Italian cities.
Outlets near Florence are always full of fashionable clothing, but apart from that, there is a huge selection of shoes, high-quality cosmetics and perfumes, accessories and jewelry.
The prices are always 30-70% lower than in the boutiques and almost don’t depend on the season. But even during the sales the prices continue to drop providing really money-saving shopping for the visitors. Italian winter sales take place in January and February, the summer sales – in July and August.
How to find outlets in Florence?
Some world-known brands have their own outlets right in Florence: Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Fendi, Robero Cavalli and Prada are among them. But the most popular multi-brand outlets are located outside the city, and if you have big shopping plans, it will be better to take a rental car to reach them quickly and easily. So, what outlets can you find in the suburbs of Florence?
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1. Barberino Designer Outlet
Being the largest outlet in Florence it is very popular both among the Italians and the visitors of the city. The outlet is located in Barberino – just in half an hour drive (30 kilometers) from Florence.
The shopping town consists of more than a hundred boutiques, so you need to spend the whole day there to inspect all the shops. If you get tired, you can enjoy a cup of coffee with the freshest croissant or taste Swiss hot chocolate at one of the local cafes.
Discounts in Barberino can be even greater than the usual 30-70%, and if you’re lucky with the sales, you will be able to buy branded clothes at very cheap rates.
Brands presented: Baldini, Lacoste, Diesel, Guess, Lewis, Pal Zileri, Prada, Timberland, Gucci, Add Bose, Calvin Klein, D&G, Diffusione Tessile, Pinko.
Address: Via Meucci, 50031 Barberino, Mugello
Opening hours: daily 10.00-21.00
2. The Mall Outlet
The Mall Outlet is an exclusive shopping center of luxurious designer clothes at competitive prices. It’s situated in Lecce which is just 30km from Florence and offers various collections of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, great selection of accessories, shoes, perfumes, watches, sunglasses and jewelry.
The Mall makes a nice impression because of the quality and price ratio. Ladies are delighted to purchase a raincoat just for 350€ and a handbag for 300€. The shops sell clothing both of new collections and past seasons, which is significantly reflected in the price.
Brands presented: Alberta Ferretti, Burberry, Emilio Pucci, Giorgio Armani, Moschino, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tom Ford, McQueen, Gucci, Sergio Rossi, Valentiono, Armani Jeans, Hogan, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Tag Heuer, Dior, Fendi, Saint Laurent, Tod’s.
Address: Via Europa, 8, 50166 Leccio, Reggello
Opening hours: daily 10.00-19.00
3. Valdichiana Outlet Village
Valdichiana Outlet is located a little further from Florence than the previous ones (about 100 km) and it was built in the form of a small village. The streets of this village offer more than 170 shops selling clothes, shoes, cosmetics, household goods, accessories and jewelry. There’s a wide selection of sportswear.
Discounts usually reach 30%-70% there and are available all-year round. Very often the Outlet Village provides different concerts, performances and festivals for its visitors. You can find a children’s play park on the territory, lots of cafes and restaurants offering tasty and cheap dishes.
Brands presented: Enrico Coveli, Home&Cook, Skechers, Adidas, Swatch, VFG Factory Store, Den Store, Tommy Hilfiger, Benetton, Guess, Nike, Puma and much more.
Address: Via Enzo Ferrari, 5, 52145 Foiano della Chiana
Opening hours: daily 10.00-20.00
4. Sotto Sotto Outlet
Sotto Sotto is the closest multi-branded outlet to Florence and you can find it just in 22 kilometers from the city. The outlet specializes in selling men’s/women’s luxurious clothing: shoes, handbags, stylish evening dresses and suits. Sotto Sotto has gained a great popularity recently, and not without a reason – it offers fantastically discounted rates for almost all clothing assortment.
Well, if you like fashion and dream of something special, set off to Sotto Sotto and enjoy a truly memorable shopping!
Brands presented: D&G, Versace, Caterina Masoni, Check Point, H&M, Agnona, Alpha Massimo Rebecchi, Max Mara, Fendi, Roberto Cavalli, and Prada.
Address: Via di Fibbiana, 10, 51013 Campi Bisenzio
Opening hours: Monday 15.00-19.00, Thursday-Sunday 10.00-19.00
Of course, Florence has much more interesting shopping places, but all the spots that were mentioned above always offer the best rates and only high-quality goods. Therefore, we expect that this article can be a good assistant for your shopping in Florence.
Author Bio: Lily Berns is a travel writer and she likes to find special places for pleasant vacation in Italy