San Lorenzo Market, Florence

I really didn't know what to put for the "appropriate type" for this, considering they had EVERYTHING at the market. Quite literally. Sunglasses, ties, scarves, aprons, artwork, ceramics, knock off purses, leather coats of every kind, little clothing shops on the outskirts, jewelry, shoes...the list goes on and on. Of all the shopping we did in Italy, I bought the most from San Lorenzo. Be sure you barter for a good price...all you really have to do is walk away, and they will lower their asking - they are fully aware that there is another stall down the street with virtually the same bag or jacket. I bought a Prada bag for about 35 euros, and it's a REALLY good knock off. In terms of sunglasses, it is technically illegal to buy from the "street" vendors [the ones that carry their stuff around with them], but truth be told, they really do have the best knock offs out there.

What to pay: Don't pay more than about 40-50 euros for a designer bag...ties are usually 3 for 6 euros, and I found that the sunglass vendors would not go lower than 10 euros a pair.

In the san lorenzo's market you can find about everything about dresses,shoes,t-shirts,leather,bags.It's a very good area where you can check if there is somethng u are interested about.You can confrontate prices and i'm sure you'll find what u are sarching for

What to buy: Most of all you can buy t-shirts,bags and shoes...but there are also other interesting thngs to watch and buy

It is a stand in the Mercato di San Lorenzo.

What to buy: Florentine Wood boxes. The technique of laying burnished gold leaf onto prepared wood surfaces was developed in Medieval Florence. Its opulent ornamentation was inspired by the churches of the day, and was initially used in religious picture frames. It was during the Renaissance that this style became secularized, and used in the making of decorative wood boxes. The art of gold gilding has been handed down from that time to present, and is still produced with the same techniques in Florence.

There is a large leather market in the San Lorenzo area of Florence, located 5 -10 mins walk from the Duomo.

Here you can browse through stall after stall of handbags, leather jackets, belts etc and other clothing and gifts.

I have been to the market a few times and it has always been really crowded - so please keep your belongings close to you!

What to buy: Leather goods of course....well I think they are all leather....though some items are sooooo cheap compared to the "proper" shops.

My sister had fallen in love with a leather jacket in a shop that was a few hundred euros. Then she saw an "identical" jacket at the market for around 80 euros - sold!!!

No one back home needs to know anymore than "this is the jacket I bought in Florence"!!

Handbags were good too....I was tempted but a lack of spare room in my suitcase held me back!!

What to pay: Alot cheaper than the shops - just be careful of the quality you are buying.

I have been to Florence three times and all three times I have loved the San Lorenzo market. I do not even need to buy anything, I just love to be there.

What to buy: Leather, I wish I would have come home with a new jacket.

What to pay: 100-200 euros

Whether you are looking for that knock off prada purse or a really nice leather jacket, you will find it here along with an assortment of other fine Florentine items in the San Lorenzo Market. This airy market is a great part of Florence.

What to buy: Leather goods
Florentine paper and bound books
Silks, scarves
Figurines of David and Pinocchio.

What to pay: Negotiable depending on the item

Located next to the San Lorenzo Church is a busy marketplace with over 100 stalls peddling leather goods, clothing, jewelry, ceramics, designer goods and designer knock offs at low prices.

What to buy: Leather good, clothes, jewelry

The whole San Lorenzo area is great all sorts of shopping from ties, leather goods and tacky t-shirts!
Of course be aware that not everything is at bargain prices and if you look around the corner from the prominent stalls you may find better prices. You can bargain a bit as well.
The large square building is the Mercato Centrale and is on two floors. Much of the downstairs is devoted to meat, cheese and general food shops, upstairs is mostly fruit and veg.

What to buy: Cheese - they will vacume pack for you!
Dried meats.
Porcini mushrooms - check quality around the stalls.
New olive oil and maninated olives.
Fresh coffee (beans or ground).
Also have an expresso in one of the various small cafes - probably the cheapest and best you'll find in the area!
I almost forgot to mention the candied fruit (all sorts of varieties).

What to pay: Best prices for cheese, meat etc, unless you go somewhere more obscure!

This market is fantastic - it sprawls and branches off, with goods from leather to gaudy souveneirs, ladies/mens fashion to jewellery. The leather shops here are fantastic, just be sure to bargain hard!! There are also great vintage clothing stalls and the best thing is that it surrounds the fantastic mercato centrale!! (refer to other tip!)

What to buy: Leather, jewellery, clothes, shoes, food, wine!!! The list goes on, I only wish I hadn't been so frugal and bough more!

What to pay: It ranges...but a lot of the items are middle of the range to bottom end in quality and prices...

After just returning from "beautiful" Florence I would say that San Lorenzo market is a convenient and fun way to shop in Italy. It is reasonably priced and one of the best deals out of all of the places that I visited in Italy. We were in Pisa (good leather prices but seedy people). Rome didn't have that much shopping and it was not cheap. The only thing about San Lorenzo market that I was surprised about was that the vendors are not all so quick to bargain with you. If you like something and they will not come down in price then GO TO ANOTHER VENDOR NEXT DOOR WHO WILL HAVE THE SAME THING AND WHO WILL BARGAIN WITH YOU. Once you say that you will pay in cash they should cut the price at least 2 Euros. If not, go somewhere else. There are so many vendors that you will find the item and price that you want.

What to buy: In Florence at San Lorenzo Market I would purchase leather gloves, pocketbooks, scarves (pashminas), silk ties, belts, and shoes. The jewelry (if you are from New York and go to Canal Street) is not a good deal. they sell most of it on the Ponte Vecchio bridge and it is not cheap. Wine is also a good deal. U.S. citizens can only bring home 1 or 2 bottles. So drink it while you are there. The Chianti is great and because it is so fresh there are no preservatives so you will not get a headache. It is also a great deal. 4 or 5 euros will buy you a great bottle of Chianti!!!!!

What to pay: Gloves with a cashmire lining should cost no more than 20 to 25 Euros. You may even get a better deal if you keep trying. Pashminas should cost about 15-20 Euros at San Lorenzo market. They have people selling them everywhere.