What to Buy in Florence

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The city of Florence is a haven for shopping lovers.

All over the city, you'll come across small shops offering a variety of goods, from clothes and shoes, leather items (bags and wallets), custom-made jewelry, artworks, home decor, ceramics, kitchenware, quality linens, perfumes, stationery, silk, and of course, delectable Tuscan food and wines (including coffee and tea).

Florence has several outstanding shopping districts. Among the most popular is Via de' Tornabuoni, famous for luxury brands like Gucci and Prada.

Wander through the narrow streets of Santo Spirito to uncover boutique shops and art galleries. Here, you'll discover a delightful blend of traditional art, clothing and accessories, goldsmiths, and jewelers. The same is true for nearby San Frediano (where you can purchase traditional Florentine gold and silver jewelry).

For those seeking quality food gifts, head to the bustling Mercato Centrale or stop by the Eataly shop near the Piazza del Duomo (the selection is truly extensive).

We're confident that you'll adore the shops we've highlighted further in the text.

1. High-quality food products

Visiting Florence is a great opportunity to stock yourself with quality food products. You'll have a hard time to choose as there are so many things to choose from, starting from artisanal chocolates, truffles products, dried porcini mushrooms, jar of ribollita or minestrone, fruit chutneys, small bottles of olive oil, saffron (San Gimignano is a local producer of it), aged balsamic vinegars, vacuum packed aged cheeses, espresso, nut creams (pistachio, almond or hazelnut). Of course, not to mention quality Tuscan wines as well as liqueurs. Wooden cutting boards, made with olive wood. Tuscans are known for their “tagliere” (cutting boards). Edible souvenirs are great and if we can manage not to eat them ourselves, make good presents.

Mercato Centrale (main food market in San Lorenzo)

what to buy florence mercato centrale

Just a 5-minute walk from the Duomo, you'll discover Mercato Centrale, the largest food market in the area. On the ground floor, there are numerous specialty shops offering a variety of food items like cheeses, salami, prosciutto, fresh pasta, and local olive oils. You'll also encounter fruit and vegetable sellers, as well as fishmongers and butchers.

This is an excellent chance to purchase quality Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, or even a bottle of extra-virgin olive oil. Keep in mind that this section closes at 2pm. Upstairs, on the second floor, you'll find a gourmet food court where you can indulge in prepared Italian dishes.

Sant'Ambrogio Market (smaller market in Santa Croce)

The various kinds of beans available at Sant'Ambrogio market

Sant'Ambrogio Market is a smaller yet bustling hub, brimming with stalls offering baked treats, cheeses and salami, fresh pasta, meats, seafood, and eggs. The fruit and vegetable stands are situated outside, providing a wonderful selection. You can enjoy lunch here too, with various ready-to-eat meals available.

Inside the market, explore La Botteghina Dell’Augusta di Aglietti Leonardo, known for exquisite truffle products. Just next door, Il Cernacchino awaits you with an extensive range of bulk foods and canned goods, perfect for those cooking during their stay in Italy. Note that Sant'Ambrogio Market opens from Tuesday to Saturday at 7am. and closes at 2pm.

Leonardo Firenze (a little corner for sweet lovers)

You'll fall in love with every delight from Leonardo Firenze (Via Porta Rossa, 14R), a charming boutique offering a delightful choice of Italian sweet baked goods like cantucci, brutti ma buoni (pistachio ones are our favorite choice), panettone, colombe, and torta mantovana - a soft cake with orange, almonds, and pine nuts. They also offer Vin Santo and luscious spreads in flavors like pistachio, chocolate, and hazelnut.

Leonardo's cantucci comes in a variety of flavours, from classic almond to orange and chocolate combo, then with figs, and a dark version with white chocolate.

A pack of cantucci or brutti ma buoni (or a mixed assortment) is a wonderful gift or perfect foodie souvenir from Florence. There's also another location on Via dei Macci, 65R, with an even wider selection of bakery products.

Venchi chocolate shop (chocolate lovers paradise)

what to buy florence venchi

At the Venchi stores (Via dei Calzaiuoli 65R; Via Calimaruzza 18), you'll discover a selection of the finest Italian chocolates in various flavours, with creamino, pistachio, gianduiotto, and nougatine being the favorites.

You can purchase chocolates by weight, allowing you to create your own selection, or you might opt for chocolate bars. A decorative box filled with assorted chocolates and pralines, could be an excellent gift! Or opt for Venchi's chocolate spread - a perfect filling for pancakes or donuts...

We’re confident you'll find it challenging to choose from Venchi's amazing selections! Another Venchi store can be found at the SMN train station, perfect for grabbing a sweet treat to enjoy during your train journey.

Via del Tè (amazing tea blends)

what to buy florence via del te

Via del Tè is the tea shop in Florence for tea fans and those who don't drink coffee. They offer exciting exclusive tea blends, making them special and hard to find elsewhere. You can enjoy free tea tastings there every day.

The packaging is beautiful, making it a great food gift to bring home from Italy. They have three locations: Via Santo Spirito, 11; Via della Condotta, 28R (a short walk from Piazza della Signoria); and Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 22/23R.

Eataly

Florence's Eataly, that lies a few steps north of the Duomo, is stuffed with the very best that Italy has to offer of food and drink. You'll drool over freshly-baked breads and pizza, a variety of salami and prosciutto (plus cheeses), olive oils, aged aceto balsamico from Modena, not to mention a wine shop stocking around 700 labels, cookery books and kitchen gadgets and much more. Hungry? There’s a café and several different restaurants where you can feast on Italian food.

2. Fabulous natural cosmetics and perfumes

All around Florence you'll find shops selling original natural cosmetics made with the finest ingredients from Tuscan region. Choose from facial creams, body lotions, amazingly scented soaps - the choice is huge. Not to forget perfumes with floral and citrus notes. Here are some of the places you'll love.

Erboristeria De Herbore (natural cosmetics and much more)

what to buy florence herbore

This charming shop is located on the same street as the Bargello Museum (Via del Proconsolo 43R). Here, you can explore an assortment of Italian brand perfumes, shampoos, body washes, face creams, body lotions, shower gels and organic essential oils. The shop also offers a selection of teas and health food products.

We particularly adore the naturally scented soaps, beautifully wrapped in vibrant packages, making them the perfect gift for a loved one. The staff is super friendly and if you need an advice or assistance, they'll be more than happy to help you out.

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Just a short walk from the SMN train station (Via della Scala, 16), you'll find the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of the world's oldest herbal pharmacies.

Upon entering, you're surrounded by a captivating aroma, with offerings ranging from perfumes and oils to skincare products, soaps, and herbal remedies. You can sample every scent, with professional and attentive staff ready to assist.

This is a perfect place to purchase unique gifts for loved ones or youself. You'll love Acqua della Regina, their historic fragrance linked to Catherine de Medici, featuring a fabulous, light citrusy blend with a musk base.

3. Beautiful ceramic products

Florence is renowned for its beautiful hand-made ceramics. The city is dotted with charming shops offering an array of vibrant ceramic products.

Florence ceramics are perfect if you want to take a little piece of Tuscan back home with you. Select from a wide selection of ceramic plates, bowls and cups. Interesting stores include MG Design on Via Ghibellina, 119R, Ceramiche Artistiche Migliori on Via de’ Benci 39R, Le Mie Ceramiche on Via Giuseppe Verdi, 8R, and Ceramiche d’Arte Parrini on Via de’ Cimatori 34R. With such a wonderful selection, choosing might just be your biggest challenge!

Don’t overlook ‘La botteghina del Ceramista’ on Via Guelfa 5R and Sbigoli on Via Sant’Egidio, 4R, which are also delightful stops for ceramic enthusiasts.

Sometimes, you'll find a range of cute ceramic products at the stands at Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, near the main train station.

Kitchen utensils

We bought a small cutting board made from local olivewood. If you've not seen things made of olive wood, it can be a very pretty wood, with colorful swirls and eye-catching figure. The shop had a variety of knickknacks, utensils, plates, etc., all of olivewood.

How are shops open in Florence?

Many shops operate throughout the day without closing for lunch. However, as you move away from the city center, some places still follow a more traditional schedule, opening in the morning around 9 or 10 AM, closing for lunch around 1 PM, and reopening in the afternoon around 3 or 4 PM. These stores usually remain open until 7:30 or 8 PM.

Typically, stores are open from Monday to Saturday, while they remain closed on Sundays. It’s a good idea to confirm the opening hours of a specific store before heading out to shop.

On a positive note, most places accept payments in cash, as well as debit and credit cards. For cash transactions, recipients may not automatically provide a receipt, so it’s advisable to request one if you need it.

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