What to Buy in Florence: Unique Gifts and Memorable Souvenirs

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Wondering what to buy in Florence? You're in luck because we've explored every corner of this beautiful city (we visit Florence regularly) and found amazing products worth your money.

Whether you're watching your budget or ready to splurge, Florence has shopping options for everyone. You can find delightful gifts like beautifully packaged natural soaps, boxes of cantucci cookies, fresh flower arrangements, or marbled paper. For those feeling extravagant, there's handmade shoes, artwork, and custom jewelry. Whatever your spending plan, Florence's shops have something perfect for you.

Food lovers will be in paradise exploring the city's culinary delights. And if you're into natural beauty products, you're in the right place - Tuscany is famous for its perfumes and cosmetics.

What makes Florence shopping so wonderful is that you'll find amazing stores scattered throughout the entire city. We're going to tell you our top picks, allowing you to discover them for yourself.

Read also: How Many Days to Spend in Florence

1. Gourmet treasures from Tuscany: Fine foods and wines

When in Florence (which is often), we love to stock up with quality food products that can be found only in Italy. We always have a hard time to choose what to buy, as there are so many things on offer - pasta, sauces, cheeses, salami, coffee, olive oil, spreads, chocolate...

We head to Mercato Centrale (which is a heaven for foodies) to buy a wedge of true parmigiano and salami. We also buy there some fresh ravioli and pesto to make a true Italian meal at your apartment (Casa di Chiara is our base in Florence). At this farmers market, you can buy a bottle of extra-virgin olive oil, spices, as well as fruits, vegetables, meats, fish...

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 if you want to prepare your own meals while in Florence.

Fresh ravioli from Mercato Sant'Ambrogio in Florence is a must-buy whenever we're there

Looking for a sweet souvenir from Florence? You can't go wrong with a package of cantucci or brutti ma buoni - or better yet, get a mix of both! Our favourite spot to grab these treats is Leonardo Firenze, a charming little sweet shop tucked away at Via Porta Rossa, 14R. This cozy corner is a paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth, showcasing an amazing selection of handcrafted Italian baked goodies.

While everything in the shop is absolutely delicious, we're particularly fond of their pistachio brutti ma buoni (so tasteful) and the heavenly Colomba (so soft). They even let you sample the treats before making your choice.

Our favourite cantucci are those with dark chocolate from Leonardo Firenze in Via Porta Rossa

We can't get enough chocolate and always make sure to stop at the Venchi shops in Florence (you'll find them at Via dei Calzaiuoli 65R and Via Calimaruzza 18). We load up on their tasty chocolates - we especially love the cremino, pistachio, gianduiotto and nougatine ones. If you need a nice gift box of mixed chocolates for loved ones, this is your spot. Their chocolate spreads are amazing too - try them on pancakes or doughnuts!

And whenever we're catching a train at SMN station, we make a quick stop at the Venchi store there for some chocolate to go.

One of our favorite spots near Piazza della Signoria is Via del Tè, located on Via della Condotta. This charming tea shop specializes in exclusive tea blends that you won't easily find anywhere else. Their tea packages are beautifully designed, making them perfect gifts.

A wonderful feature is their daily complimentary tea tastings. You can also find Via del Tè at their other locations: Via Santo Spirito, 11 and Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, 22/23R. The shops offer a complete tea experience with their selection of teapots, cups, mugs, and tea storage tins.

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.

Bring home a taste of Tuscany with wine-related souvenirs like corkscrews, wine stoppers, and decorative wine racks. Pair them with a bottle of local wine for the perfect gift for wine enthusiasts.

Read also: Top Food Tours in Bologna

2. Organic fragrances and skincare from the heart of Tuscany

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.

We especially love Erboristeria De Herbore (Via del Proconsolo 43R), a shop that we found after stepping out of the Bargello Museum. This shop offers everything natural, from cosmetics (shampoos, body washes, face creams, organic essential oils) to perfumes and health food products. We loved their nicely wrapped natural soaps (with amazing scents) and bought a few as gifts. The lady who works there was amazingly friendly.

Like stepping into a museum, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (located at Via della Scala, 16, near the train station) welcomes visitors with an enchanting aroma. Inside, you'll discover an array of offerings - from perfumes and oils to skincare products, soaps, and herbal remedies. Every scent is available for sampling, and the professional, attentive staff stands ready to help. It's the perfect destination for luxury cosmetic gifts (we love Acqua della, featuring its delightful citrusy notes layered over a musk base).

L' Erbolario - natural cosmetics store

L'Erbolario is a cute store in Via del Corso 23R, offering a great selection of natural cosmetics at reasonable prices. You can take your time and slowly look through the products here, while staff is friendly and super helpful (ask the help if you need). Here you can buy a quality facial cream, body lotion or a fragrance - can choose from a variety of scents. Products can be nicely wrapped if you buy them as a gift! The products are natural and of a high-quality! There is also a small L'Erbolario store located in the train station underground mall.

3. Handmade Florentine 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.

Where to buy ceramic products in Florence? 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. 

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 the cute ceramic products at the stands at Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, near the main train station.

4. Fresh cut flowers and floral arrangements

Looking to surprise your loved ones or celebrate a special moment? A flower is always the perfect gift. Speaking of Florence - did you know the city's name actually comes from 'florere', meaning 'to bloom'?

Throughout the city, you'll discover numerous flower shops showcasing fresh bouquets, plants, and various floral arrangements.

One of our favorites is Floruit (located at Via dei Fossi 3R, just steps from Ponte alla Carraia). This flower concept boutique is perfect when you want to make a lasting impression.

Their selection includes elegant vases with preserved roses, boxed arrangements, aromatic candles, room fragrances, handcrafted ceramics, artwork, and so much more. You'll find the staff incredibly welcoming and ready to assist. Trust us - it's nearly impossible to leave this shop empty-handed! For those seeking to make a memorable impression, this flower concept boutique offers the perfect solution.

At Via della Condotta 27R, just steps away from Piazza della Signoria, there's an adorable little flower shop I Fiori della Signoria, overflowing with gorgeous fresh blooms. The shopkeeper, a friendly lady, is always eager to create custom flower bouquets exactly as you envision them. Their selection of flowers is truly extensive.

Perfect when you're planning to delight someone special with a beautiful bouquet (pre-ordering is available for convenient pickup). It's also an excellent choice if you're seeking flowers for your Florence wedding celebration.

5. Handmade marbled products

Looking for a truly unique souvenir from Florence? Consider paper goods and stationery - Florence excels in these artistic items. Marbled paper, a particularly cherished design technique in Italy, creates stunning patterns that mirror the appearance of stone, especially marble.

Florentia paper stands out as one of the most celebrated styles, recognized for its decorative, flowery designs. When visiting Florence, Italy, paper items make perfect, portable souvenirs.

While walking between Casa di Chiara and Centro Storico, we discovered Riccardo Luci's artisan workshop at Via del Parione 35R. This shop offers exceptional handcrafted items, including marbled notebooks, wallets, photo frames, book bindings, and exquisite marbled paper. The prices were quite affordable!

Consider participating in their marbled paper workshops if time permits! We purchased a lovely marbled-decorated, heart-shaped jewelry box for just €10.

Be sure to check out these other excellent shops: Il Papiro, Il Torchio di Erin Ciulla and Alberto Cozzi Rilegatore Firenze.

6. Handmade treasures from Florentine finest goldsmiths

Florence is great for buying beautiful jewelry, with many peaceful shops to explore. For unique, Renaissance-style pieces, check out Alessandro Dari, where everything is handmade (though a bit pricey).

At Casa Orafo, you can watch goldsmiths work their magic. For something more affordable, Giovanni Raspini offers silver items, charms, bracelets, and even home decor.

The famous Ponte Vecchio is lined with jewelry shops selling all kinds of pieces. You can find a nice ring for about €100, though prices change depending on the shop, gold quality, and design. There's so much choice, it might be hard to pick just one thing!

If you want to spend less, try Fiori del Tempo on Via del Corso for creative silver jewelry at good prices. Or visit the historic Torrini shop in Piazza Duomo, which has both classic and modern pieces.

Cellini Gold (Piazza di Santa Croce) - go here if you want to buy a pair of golden earrings, a necklace or a golden ring; the staff is friendly and helpful, prices are competitive and products are of high-quality.

7. Traditional Florence silk products

The beautiful silk fits perfectly with Florence's artistic style. Make sure to visit Antico Setificio Fiorentino, Italy's last silk mill. Buying a silk scarf in Florence lets you bring home a piece of this lovely fabric.

Florentine silk is elegant and top-quality, with each item showing the rich history and skilled craftsmanship of local artisans. A silk scarf from Florence is more than just a fashion item; it's a symbol of the city's long tradition in silk-making, combining rich texture with detailed design. It’s a timeless souvenir that captures the essence of Florence's beauty and skill.

8. Designer clothes, shoes and bags

For a luxury shopping go to Via de' Tornabuoni, the home of Florentine fashion houses like Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo. You'll also find high-end brands such as Prada, Fendi and Armani, alongside many international fashio and jewellery boutiques. It’s hard to miss Via de’ Tornabuoni if you’re strolling around the city’s historic centre. It's situated between the Piazza della Antinori and the Ponte Santa Trinita on the River Arno. 

9. Kitchen products

Two selling kitchen staff in Florence, that we love are: Bartolini on Via dei Servii (close to the Duomo) and Annibali-Chiti on Via dell'Ariento, directly across from the Mercato Centrale. They have everything.

Some years ago we discovered a much smaller shop, Goia della Casa, at Via S.Antonino 31R - a few steps from the Medici Tombs:

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. Wooden cutting boards, made with olive wood. Tuscans are known for their “tagliere” (cutting boards).

What are the best food souvenirs from Florence?

We can't resist baked goods from Leonardo Firenze (Via Porta Rossa, 14R. We adore their brutti ma buoni (pisachios is our favourite flavour) and cantucci cookies! A small bag costs around 6 euros. We also tried their Colomba and Panettone, both are to die for, so soft and addictive.

Go to Mercato Centrale (a short walk from the Duomo), to stock yourself with parmigiano, salami, aceto balsamico and other foodie gifts.

A package of dry pasta makes a wonderful gift from Florence. Typical Tuscan pasta are:  busiate (spirale-shaped), bucatini (thick spaghetti with a hole), pici (pasta nests), gigli (lily shaped pasta), linguine (thicker and flatter than spaghetti). Eataly is one of the shops you can find a variety of pasta.

A jar of pesto goes well with any pasta (we recommend walnut pest or pesto genovese).

What are the business hours of stores in Florence?

In the city center of Florence, shops stay open all day and don't close for lunch. But as you get farther from downtown, many places still follow the old way - they open at 9 or 10am, close for lunch at 1pm, then open again at 3 or 4pm. These stores typically close their doors around 7:30 or 8pm.

Most stores operate Monday through Saturday and stay closed on Sundays. Before you go shopping, it's wise to check when the store you want to visit is open.

Do Florence stores prefer cash or card payments?

In general, most Florence shops accept both cash (Euros) and major credit cards, though some smaller stores and markets may prefer or only accept cash. It's always good to carry some cash as a backup.

Just keep in mind that if you pay with cash, you might need to ask for a receipt since they don't always give one automatically.

Florence souvenirs online

Many Florence shops offers online buying of their products and they ship worldwide. You may even see while in Florence, something you like and then order it once back home.

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