Second only to culture
in the city comes the shopping. Florence has been
a centre of craftsmanship since the Middle Ages, when shoemakers
and goldsmiths were accorded the same status as artists and sculptors.
Today, the city remains famous for its excellent and high-quality
leather produce, goldsmiths and marbled paper. Artisans are still
seen plying their trade in workshops all over Florence. The area
around Santa Croce is home to the city’s
leather-makers, while the Oltrarno is cluttered
with the workshops of local gold and silversmiths, although the
Ponte Vecchio is home to the glitzier of such shops.
Designer boutiques cluster around the Via de’ Tornabuoni
and Via Calzaiuoli, where designers including Versace,
Ferragamo, Gucci and Valentino all have
stores. Fashion aficionados should also pay a visit to Via
della Vigna Nuova.
The more frugal can find copies in the open-air San Lorenzo
Market, in Piazza San Lorenzo, northwest of the Duomo,
which takes place every day, except for Mondays during the winter.
Leather belts and bags, silk scarves and soft wool jerseys can be
picked up very cheaply, although it is advisable for shoppers to
check the quality before buying. Nearby stands the covered food
market, which is open from 0700 hrs -1400 hrs Monday-Saturday. Bursting
with olives, hams, cheeses and fresh vegetables, it is the perfect
place for one to buy a picnic or just indulge a love of grub. The
flea market at Piazza dei Ciompi specialises in antiques and collectable
junk and provides an enjoyable rummage for the bargain-hunter. It
is open every day, except for Sundays and Mondays in winter.
Specialist shops worth a visit include the Officina Profumo
Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, Via Scala 16. Housed
in a frescoed chapel, this old-fashioned chemist was founded by
monks in the 16th century. Lotions, potions and herbal remedies
abound in elegant packaging. Handmade shoes created in time-honoured
tradition are available for purchase at Francesco, Via Santo Spirito
62r, while Pineider is considered the most exclusive stationers
in all Italy, having designed calling cards for Napoleon, Byron
and Maria Callas, among others.
As a general rule, shops open 0930 hrs -1300 hrs and 1530
hrs -2000 hrs, although larger department stores and supermarkets
may stay open throughout the day. Food shops are usually closed
on Wednesday afternoons, or Saturday afternoons in the summer. Clothes
shops are often closed on Monday mornings. There is limited opening
on Sunday.
Sales tax is 12-14 per cent depending on the value of the good purchased.
Non-EU citizens should retain receipts for goods over €155
to reclaim their VAT (IVA) at either Florence’s main airport
or at nearby Treviso Airport. Global
Refund Italia (telephone number: (0331) 283 555; fax number(0331)
283 698/9; e-mail: taxfree@it.globalrefund.com)
provides further information. |
