What's the best thing you bought in Florence or Tuscany?
 

I'm going in June with my fiance, we have talked about leather goods, suits, wine, pottery. What do you suggest?

Are we talking Grand purchases or the little stuff? For small stuff (because it's easy to pack) Siena (one nice shop on the Campo and several others as you walk up the hill toward the cathedral)has some beautiful and unique designs, especially if you aren't going to hit the big pottery places in Deruta or Montelupo. While there, pick up a panforte nero, this rich, decadent medieval fruit/nut/chocolate divinity that will keep in it's beautiful wrapper for months, so that when you get misty-eyed remembering your trip, you can unwrap it and savor the memory and the taste. Scarves and leather goods in Florence, cheap stuff in the market or beautiful coats at Romano Noi. Pretty marbled papers and stationery.

Anything from Officina Profumo Famaceutica Santa Maria Novella, especially the sandalwood soap and pot-pourri. If there is a sale on men's suits at Brioni, grab one. Some of these suits (pret-a-porter) cost up to $5,000 in the US. I bought this hand-sewn witch on a wooden broomstick at a little shop along the Arno, near the Ponte Vecchio. She hangs now from my dining room chandelier and everyone loves her. 18K gold is also a good souvenir from Florence. There are many nice shops lining the square in front of Santa Croce. Don't buy on the Ponte Vecchio--the prices are inflated for the tourists. But, Katie, my absolute favorite store in all the world in Passamaneria Valmar at 53r Via Porta Rossa. Go here for all kinds of tassles, crests, throw pillows, picture frames, etc. It is a treasure chest. You have never seen anything like it.<BR>

Passamaneria Valmar sounds wonderful. I'll be on the lookout for this and similar stores to decorate my home!

John: Are you married? (just kidding!) But I would like to go shopping with you! I have never heard anyone else but me mention the Santa Maria Novella Farmaceutica. I still have the Patchouli scented potpourri that I bought many years ago and it is just as fresh. Also, the perfumes, such as Jasmine, are exquisite and placed in elegant little bottles. And of course, the church itself with it's amazing frescoes. Your post has me planning another trip to Florence. thank you.

R, Im gay, can't you tell? We have a "shopping gene" you know? I have that same little phial of Jasmine perfume!! I don't wear it, but use it as a "decoration" for my coffee table. (I have all kind of little Murano glass bottles on my tables.) Do you know they are selling stuff from OPF SMN at Saks in NY?? I was just there on Monday after flying home from London. I couldn't believe it. Now everyone will have it and it will lose its exclusivity. So much for cult status now. Im pissed. <BR><BR>Love you, R. You have good taste.

John G; Remember that last scene from "Some Like It Hot", where Jack Lemmon says to Joe E Brown (was that his name?) "Osgood, I am not a woman". The response was: "So no one's perfect"!. Point is: I'm not that picky! Anyway, I suspected because my macho partner has the gene for not shopping and this is very sad for me! Actually, I had seen OPF SMN in L.A. somewhere last year. But don't worry it won't catch on. Most people want the stuff they have heard of with the designer names attached to them. And if they don't then they are probably, O.K. Maybe you can take some of us on a shopping tour of Italy?! Catch you later, rj

In the square outside of Santa Croce is a little shop that has all hand-carved wood items. I bought the lovliest little angle for my Christmas tree. But they also had the most beautiful picture and mirror frames.<BR><BR>Sorry I don't remember the name, but coming out of the church, the shop is on the left. <BR><BR>And, of course, a nice piece of gold from one of the cute shops on the Ponte Vecchio is a nice remembrance.<BR><BR>Have fun.

Vino!

I purchased two exquisite smooth mosaic "pictures" made of semi-precious stone and marble of many colors. One is a skyline of Florence. The other is a portrait of a woman. The technique is called "pietra dura" which I think means "hard stone", and I'm told it dates back to the Medici era. I bought these two on different trips fifteen years apart. The only shops I found of this kind on my last trip in 2001 were along the road from the Ponte Vecchio toward the Pitti Palace. I remember the store name was something like Mosaici Pitti. For a much heftier price, one can even purchase tables made of this stuff, even custom designed. The best "souvenier" I've ever purchased.

Katie, if you want to buy also food, I suggest you saffron ( we name it zafferano ). My advice is to buy saffron at Greve in Chianti, near Florence; the farm is Corte di Valle.<BR>I use it for cooking: delicious.<BR>Have a nice trip, ciao.

Olive oil, Shoes, Olive oil, Wine, Olive oil, Paper, Olive oil

Santa Maria Novella is a must! I bought patchouli essence for my best friend and gardenia essence for myself. After that, I went back and bought soaps and a soap dish. I bought my kids leather travel journals, though the prices really aren't much better than the US for these leather goods. I also bought a fun 3-D post card of David and a Bottega Venta purse for my mom.

ALong this line ... Has anyone purchased material for a suit in Firenze or elsewhere in Italia?

An Il Bisonte Bag. I love it. I also love the papers--stationary, etc that you can find in various shops around town.

Florence is my favorite shopping city and my two favorite things to buy are shoes and pillow covers. I am still wearing the first pair of shoes I purchased there 5 years ago. They were comfortable from the minute I put them on and still look good. The leather is like butter, and the good new is that they cost no more than an average pair of shoes at Nordstroms. "Quercioli" on the Via dei Calzaioli (near the Pza. Signoria)is my favorite store. For fantastic fabric items (tapestry, pillow covers, tassles, braid, etc) I love "Passamaneria TOscana" on Canto de' Nelli (where the San Lorenzo street market takes place) - on the opposite of the street from the San Lorenzo church. Every time I look at my couch with the pillow covers I have brought home, with their vibrant colors and rich fabrics, I am right back in Florence.

Without a doubt - Prada!

Santa Maria Novella was my favorite store in Florence. I was there over the holidays, and now I wish I'd bought more. <BR>Saks has recently started carrying some of their line. <BR>Of course it costs more here.

R.,<BR><BR>I'd like to go shopping with John G. , too. Maybe we can make it a threesome.<BR><BR>John G., Ever get further south? Naples? any suggestions?<BR><BR>Katie,<BR>Good suggestions all around. The stationery is gorgeous. My husband had some business cards made-up in Florence years ago. It took about two weeks for the shop to make them and as our Italian is limited to restaurants and insults we thought we'd never see them. But, on our return home, there they were. They are lovely.

olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Tuscany; provencale tablecloth with matching napkins from Provence for outdoor table - I cut a hole in the middle of it and my umbrella fits through it. I can't wait to bring it out every summer. Also I have an olive dish which is has two sections - one for the olives and the smaller section to put the pits in - always get compliments on it.