Best Shopping in Florence

For Florentine fashion houses such as Emilio Pucci and international designer boutiques including Emporio Armani, Gucci and Prada, head to Via Tornabuoni.

Unique hand-crafted gold and leather goods can be found off the beaten track, hidden among Florence’s narrow side streets. Many of the goldsmiths who line the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge still use traditional artisanal methods. For bespoke fragrances visit Lorenzo Villoresi’s renowned perfumery.

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LORENZO VILLORESI HOUSE

Independent perfumer Lorenzo Villoresi opened his House in 1990.

Located in his ancestral family home overlooking the River Arno, the beautiful Lorenzo Villoresi House can be visited by appointment. His travels throughout the Middle East have profoundly influenced Villoresi’s work, with the result that distinct accents of incense and sandalwood mingle with Tuscan laurels, olives and cypresses. Emblematic of Florence, the iris root is Villoresi’s most precious essence. Winner of the coveted François Coty award in 2006, Villoresi focuses on personalized perfumes and potpourris. In keeping with Florence’s artisanal traditions, Villorezi produces each fragrance manually using time-honored methods. For a truly bespoke fragrance book a private consultation with the perfumer himself.

PINEIDER

Offering a wide range of luxury artisanal paper, the Piazza della Signoria store opened opposite Michelangelo’s Statue of David in 1774.

Although David has since been relocated to the Accademia Gallery, the Pineider shop still stands and continues to offer an exquisite assortment of high quality leather goods, clothing, hand-crafted stationery, pens and watches, all made by artisans in Florence, France and Holland. Pineider was a favorite among the bourgeoisie for made-toorder visiting cards with their coats of arms engraved in gold. A family-owned business, Pineider still uses traditional methods and each item is endorsed with the official Pineider watermark. Pineider has produced bespoke items for the Savoy Royal family and most recently it was the official supplier for the 2009 G8 Summit. Charles Dickens, Lord Byron and Giacomo Leopardi have all used Pineider products.

STEFANO RICCI

Classic Italian tailoring at its best, Stefano Ricci offers refined clothing and accessories for the discriminating gentleman, as well as a coveted home ware range.

All garments are handmade, with shirts cut from the finest Egyptian cotton and sewn together by expert craftsmen with 25 stitches per inch. The trademark cufflinks are handmade by master goldsmiths using solid gold, platinum, diamond and a host of semi-precious stones including blue topaz, rhodolite, onyx, Iolite, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl and enamel. The luxury leather range includes wallets, footwear, belts, travel bags and handbags for the perfect gift. True to the tradition of Florentine artisans, each leather item is cut from the skins by hand and the clasps and buckles individually crafted. For interior design, the Stefano Ricci Royal Suite Collection offers exquisite home products using select fabrics and fine china.

SCUOLA DEL CUOIO

For one-of-a-kind exceptionally crafted leather accessories visit the Scuola del Cuoio leather school, located in Santa Croce monastery.

Founded by the Gori and Casini families together with Franciscan monks, the school once offered apprenticeships to World War I orphans. Adorned with frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio, the Scuola del Cuoio has the atmosphere of a Renaissance workshop and customers can watch the artisans as they work. As a matter of principle, logos are never engraved on the leather, with the result that each piece is valued solely on the quality of its craftsmanship. Accessories are handmade using calfskin, deer, ostrich, alligator and python. Francesca Gori, daughter of the school’s founder, has a permanent collection of hand-cut and stitched, individually decorated, jeweled handbags. Audrey Hepburn, Steven Spielberg and President Eisenhower have all owned Scuola del Cuoio leather accessories. Book private lessons with a Scuola del Cuoio Master Craftsman and learn how to make your own accessory – from a leather journal cover to a pouch style handbag or monogrammed belt.

EMILIO PUCCI

Florentine fashion designer and politician Emilio Pucci died in 1992 at the age of 78.

Fortunately, the Pucci brand still retains his distinct style with its kaleidoscope of bright colors and bold patterned silks. The Florence store carries the full line of ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, sunglasses, fragrances and silk accessories. On the ground floor dresses, blouses and trousers are suspended from the ceiling in front of a luminous wall that showcases Pucci’s vivid color palette. The store’s interior is defined by minimalist curves and an understated white marble and glass staircase. Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy and Madonna have all worn Pucci, and Marilyn Monroe was famously buried in a green Pucci dress.

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