Hi! I remember hearing about a beautiful old store, selling soaps, lotions, not modern, very well known. Anyone know what/where I'm talking about?<BR><BR>Also, how about a great place to buy great shoes? Not Prada, they need to be affordable! Not going to Rome so it has to be Florence. Thanks

Miranda<BR><BR>Oh what a treat you have in store (no pun intended). It's Farmaceutica di S.M. Novella at Via della Scala, 16. The building is frescoed and gorgeous. Feels like a cathedral. Enjoy!

oh boy - farm SM Novella is a mind-blower. I shot the wad when I was there last fall - very $$$, but the greatest stuff on the planet. (I don't have deep pockets, but I made room in the budget for the pilgrimage!) Be sure to get a bar of the cream Vellutina soap, the smell makes me delirious (about $15 for one bar!). Their regular scented milky soaps run about $6 and come in Gardenia, Jasmine, Carnation, Iris, Rose, Verbena and Violet. (These have inserts that have some photos of the place.) For fun pick up a few of their "antique preparations" - their famous Water of SM Novella, which is a light scent, kind of minty/fruity, perfect for warm weather; and their Vinegar of the Seven Thieves, originally prepared for women "prone to fainting fits and hysterics" (couldn't resist buying a vial). These were affordable in comparison to their other products. When you enter (you'll be able to smell the place from a block away) they have these beautiful detailed "menus" listing everything they carry, printed on large heavy paper sitting out on stands...I think they had 'em in Italian, French, German, English and Japanese, and I brought a few of those home for friends who are in the 'bath and bod' biz and consider FSMNovella the pinnacle. Also, bring home at least one "essenza assoluta" (essential oil), which come in acacia, amber, cyprus, heliotrope, hay, mimosa, gardenia, jasmine, lily, iris, lily of the valley, narcissus, patchouli, peau d'espagne, rose, sandalwood, verbena, vetiver, violet and ylang ylang... these'll knock your socks off. About $35/apiece (I know - ouch). Superb, deep product line, everything is exquisitely presented... give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the experience. I really do think that this is just about the greatest store I've ever been in in my life.

Miranda, the following is the address for the website of OPF SMN: http://www.italian.it/santamarianovella/<BR><BR>Buy as much as you can carry home with you because it is soooo much cheaper here than at the store in London.<BR><BR>My favorites are Idrasol cream, pot-pourri, Vetiver soap, and pure essence of sandalwood. <BR><BR>When you go to the store in Florence you have to really, really watch out for it because it is unmarked. Look down at the stoop and you will see the crest for SMN.<BR><BR>

Yes, that's the place! Thank you all so much for the info! I can't wait! I'm a goner. I'm already thinking I may have to ship stuff home!<BR><BR>Don't mean to be greedy, but any suggestions on shoes? Thanks!

Prob'ly the only regret from my trip was that I didn't bring home a pair of shoes (too busy buying soap...oh well, NEXT trip!) Can't recommend a specific shoe place because there were so many in Florence. Don't know how much time you have, but my suggestion would be to study your city map and maybe first do a walkabout when you arrive, to get the lay of the Shoe land... take note of windows that really strike your fancy, then head back to shop later. If you're the type who doesn't buy at Place A because there might be a better Place B down the road or around the corner, you'll definitely want to do some advance windowshopping in Florence. Street after street beautiful small shops with amazing window displays... linens, glassware, shoes, paper, antiques, etc. Enjoy!

Shoes? Well my wife spent a ton of lira at Lily's of Florence, just across the river. Well known brand to her, and she was in paradise in that shop. She said she saved lots of dollars based on what the same shoes sell for at home at Nordstram's etc. Well, I did get a nice leather belt out of the deal and lunch!

Kelvey, yes, me too. I didn't buy shoes while in Italy last April, and for some crazy reason I'd wished I'd had, so now I'm determined to come back w/a pair!<BR><BR>Bobbie, thanks for the Lily's tip. Your post cracked me up-well, at least you did get a belt AND lunch!

SM Novello is a must. Haven't been there myself, but there was a small item in one of the fashion/beauty magazines giving it a rave review. Have fun!

Any more shoe reports? Thanks!

If you walk along Via Calzaiuoli, between the Duomo and Piazza Signoria, you will run into many, many shoes stores. Unfortunately, now is the time to be in Florence, for the January sales. If you want a bargain, fly to Florence with the next two weeks.<BR><BR>Ferragamo, on the Via Tournabuoni, has a tremendous sale going on now. You can find merchandise up to 75% off. <BR><BR>Another store I always recommend to friends is, Passamaneria Valmar, at 53r Via Porta Rossa. It is near Helvetia e Bristol Hotel. You will find all sorts of passamentarie here, including footstools, picture frames, tassels, crests, dolls, throw pillows, etc.

Great shoe leads John, thanks! T'is a shame, but alas, I will have to miss the big sales and pay full price. No matter, I am determined! Ciao

I had heard that Prada has a factory outlet that sells seconds just outside of Florence. Is this true? Anybody know where it might be?

topping for tips!

Cindy - the Prada outlet is off the Montevarchi exit on the A1. It's not too far from this exit, but you will need specific directions which I will dig out if you want. It is about 50 minutes from Florence though. It is worth it and alot of fun. We stopped the day we arrived in Rome and I could have done ALOT more damage had I been more rested!<BR><BR>Miranda - I like a place called Italo Balestri in Florence for shoes. It's near via Tornabuoni (may be via Bianchi) and the prices are reasonable and the selection managable. It's on the left as you head towards Santa Maria Novella. Hope this helps.

My favorite shoe store in Florence is Quercioli - and shoes are my favorite thing to come home with. I always take an extra empty duffle to Italy because of the great shopping there. I'm still wearing shoes I brought back 4 years ago and they are the most comfortable ones in my closet. Quercioli is (as I remember) not too far from the NW corner of the Piazza Signoria on Via Calzaiuoli (one of the main shopping avenues). My other favorite store in Florence (even though you didn't ask about fabrics and decorator items) is Passamaneria Toscana where they have the most gorgeous tapestry fabrics and items made from them, and at a reasonable price. I always bring back pillow covers in rich, traditional Italian fabrics - not outrageously expensive, useful at home, and really easy to pack and take home (without pillow!). I think of Florence every time I walk by my couch. the store is on same street as the San Lorenzo street market, but is a regular storefront. It is on the rigth side of the street as you walk from the plaza in front of the church (San Lorenzo) toward the Capelle Medici. Walk down the sidewalk rather than through the street market and you can't miss the display in the window. Have a great time!<BR><BR>Betsy

Hi Miranda,<BR><BR>Shopping in Florence - it is fantastic! I wrote up on another thread my trip to Florence and shared extensive shopping tips. If you put in Kiki into the search engine, the thread should appear. <BR><BR>If I were in Florence, I would stock up on Tod's and Hogan shoes, passamentarie, and handbags. That thread has addresses, etc.- hope it helps <BR><BR>Enjoy!