We love browsing through the San Lorenzo open market in Florence. There's a huge variety and lots of bargains. Make sure you make the rounds before purchasing. Many of the vendors sell the same the same products for different prices! It's great for leather goods, souvenirs, and even clothes!

And I also have bought lovely things at Il Papiro.

Happy shopping!!

Dried porcini from the Mercato Centrale is a very good buy, also sun-dried tomatoes if they aren't too 1990's for you. My son works in the City and I can top up his silk neckties inexpensively, some of the 5 or 6 euro ones in Florence are as nice as you find for much more in good men's shops in the UK.

What is strange to me is the lack of music shops in most Italian towns, especially as Amazon's prices are not so good as in the US or UK.

Thank you, what wonderful information! Ekscrunchy, I was particularly hoping that zeppole and you would notice that we did rent the villa you suggested. I cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciate your willingness to help us. Oh and good eating information is most welcome. I have a couple of silent partners following these threads with me!
I am certain I will have great fun following up on these suggestions. Thank you!

You might look for a Florentine mosaic. Three trips to Italy in the last seven years and three small mosaic pieces. We always find something we like in our price range and they can be a beautiful addition to your home.

CMC: Glad to be of help! I can't wait to read of your adventures!

Ekscrunchy:

It may be true [roughly] that "the price of gold is the same worldwide," but way more than the cost of the commodity is built into the price of gold jewelry, including design, distribution, rent, salaries, insurance, marketing and promotion. Fact is, prices for jewelry of similar gold content can and do vary immensely. Our friends who live above and work in Florence tell us there's nothing on the bridge that is not less expensive elsewhere in Florence.

cmcfong:

Enjoy your trip. Florence and its environs are beautiful.

I have not purchased gold jewelry in Florence in decades, so am not an expert on shopping for it. But I do think that a well-prepared shopper can do fairly well if he or she is willing to engage in some good-natured discussion about price on larger items.

Perhaps you could give us a few names of places that your friends recommend....

Does anyone have suggestions on where to buy gold jewelry in Florence? Specific shops or areas to shop for gold other than the bridge? Ideas appreciated.

Ekscrunchy, I will do my best to be an educated consumer. You have advised me well and I appreciate it.

hmmm, I welcome your suggestions of places to shop. What do your friends recommend?

kybourbon, thank you for the link to the outlets. You have been most helpful with our train planning as well.

ekt, the mosaics sound most intriguing. Thank you for that suggestion.

The markets of Florence and their hours.
http://www.firenzeturismo.it/images/...%20inglese.pdf

Enewell can I suggest you post your question seperately? That way you'll get alot more responses and you won't be "hijacking" cmcfong's thread :)

You're welcome. If you go to the Ponte Vecchio, many of the shops carry mosaics in varying sizes. We bought ours from G. Ugolini, Il Mosaico Florentino. Two charming women of a certain age run the shop. They have a nice selection and even if you do not buy, it is fun to browse. The shop is on the street that runs by the Arno. If you face the Ponte Vecchio, it is down the street to your right. Happy shopping.

topping for Ohgirlfriend.

Clarification: Just saw that someone had apparently posted back to me months back on my comment. I did not buy anything on the Ponte Vecchio but on a little side street. The merchandise along the bridge was very pretty but beyond my budget.