The Italy adventure continues! After two days in Florence, I’m headed to Rome where I’ll meet up with my parents for five more days of sightseeing. My dad is a history buff which means we’ll be hitting all the cultural attractions, big and small; and it also means that if I wanted to get any lifestyle-y stuff done on this trip, I had to do it when I was exploring solo in Florence. There were no complaints from me on that front, however, because Florence is known for it’s fabulous boutiques, markets, and cafes! I’ve compiled a short list of the highlights from my Florence shopping and dining experience. It’s not meant to be exhaustive—that would be an impossible task after a lifetime in this city, let alone 48 hours!—but it’s a good start once you’ve hit the major tourist hotspots and are ready to venture off the beaten path.
My number one can’t-miss shop in Florence is Boutique Nadine. When I stumbled through their doors I knew I’d found my happy spot! Featuring a mix of independent Italian and French designers, all with striking yet wearable silhouettes, this clothing, accessories, and homewares store hits all the right notes for finding a special piece to remember your trip by—without spending too much money. There are two locations, one near the Ponte Vecchio and one on Via de’ Benci, with my favorite being the latter for its worn plank floors and its friendly shop cat. Once you’ve worked up an appetite trying on every dress and blouse on the racks, head to nearby Piazza San Pier Maggiore for lunch. There you’ll find the celebrated panini shop Antico Noe (which definitely deserves its celebrated reputation!) but if you’re in the mood for a sit-down then Ristorante San Michele All’Arco on the same corridor is your jam. The restaurant uses only ingredients from their own nearby farm, and they have a vast gluten free options that include a huge list of frittatas and salads. Finding fresh veggies can be hard while traveling, even in produce-loving Tuscany, so I was beyond grateful for the healthy lunch I enjoyed there!
Closer to the main train station is Mercato Centrale, a foodie’s paradise and a testament to the glory that is Tuscan cuisine. The huge indoor market is packed with butcheries, bakeries, fishmongers, and produce stands selling every imaginable ingredient from the surrounding region—as well as plenty you can’t imagine until you’ve seen them! At one grocer I counted six types of summer squash and seven varieties of eggplant, all of them fresh off the vine and picture perfect to boot. Have an espresso and cantuccini snack, then stock up on herb blends and dried mushrooms to bring home as gifts. Once your eyes have eaten their fill, head to the stretch of leather and clothing stalls just outside the market. They’re full of inexpensive yet beautiful purses, scarves, shoes, and more. I snagged two gorgeous linen shirt dresses there for 35 euros each! Oh, and on a practical note, Mercato Centrale is a great place to use the bathroom. It costs one euro but the price is worth it because the restrooms are clean and the line is never too long!
After getting a feel for the city center, be sure to cross the river for more wardrobe worthy finds—and fewer crowds, too! At the base of the Ponte al Carraia are two apparel stores that represent different yet equally dynamic aspects of Italian fashion. The newly opened Coexist stocks its shelves with structured, minimalist tailoring in crisp poplins and wearable wools. A sharp navy blue swing dress with a stunning back button detail was just over 100 euros and would look right in step with sneakers and flats alike. Just over the street pop into Vincent Croce, which specializes in a more relaxed, bohemian vibe that locals pull off with sophisticated aplomb. The house label of linen shifts, pants, and blouses is expertly cut yet never tops more than 50 euros per piece; and the accessories roundup of espadrilles, platform sandals, and neoprene totes takes even jeans and a tee to stylish heights. As you make your way south towards Palazzo Pitti and the Ponte Vecchio, stop into Via del Te for a blood sugar boost. This charming salon, which has been in operation since the 1960’s, gives Italian coffee a run for its money with hundreds of teas and infusions to suit every taste. Grab a seat on one of the bentwood chairs and order one of their delicate housemade pastries to accompany your sip of choice. Or choose your favorite palette from amongst their colorful range of tea tins—a functional souvenir to adorn the shelves back home!
Last but not least, spend some time in the streets that surround the Piazza San Marco. They lead to the Fortezza da Basso, which hosts each season’s major fashion events, and as such are the site of many small ateliers. The neighborhood outpost of locally made accessories line Marta Ray are a great example of standout Florentine design. The store’s simple, supple leather flats are available in every hue under the Tuscan sun, and the backpacks whisper a quiet chic. Finally, Italians mean business when it comes to vintage, as evidenced by the impressive (though pricey!) selection at Street Doing. The list of labels they carry reads like the schedule at fashion week! Gently loved Gucci loafers mingle with barely worn Prada gowns, and if you’re looking for an timeless designer handbag with some history, you’ll find it here. I can’t imagine a more appropriate way to carry Florence home than in a Ferragamo original, can you?
P.S. One site not pictured that you absolutely must visit is the pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella. The label is known globally for its perfumes and skincare, but seeing its medieval birthplace will give you a new level of admiration for the world’s oldest beauty brand. Admission is free to view the tall counters and tiny drawers from which restorative potions have been dispensed since Florentine monks first began selling their palliative rosewater in 1612; and the soaps, incense, and colognes make for reasonably priced sensory souvenirs to relive the wonder at home!
Nice line up of sports Anne! I’m happy you got to see the new shop Coexist, it’s hipster glory at its greatest. I’ll have to show you around a few more places next time you’re in town 🙂