Archive for 'Shopping'

It may come as no surprise to some that Florence is the most visited city in Tuscany. Not only is Florence the capital of the region and the most populous city in Tuscany (with 364,073 inhabitants in the city itself and 990,527 in the metropolitan area as of 2024), but it is also very much the culture capital.

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is only overshadowed by Rome due to its incredible age and sheer size but in almost any other place, this would be the uncontested titan when it comes to art, culture, history, tourist attractions, and more. As it stands, Florence is still considered one of the great cities of the world and a must-see. 

For those who book one of our Tuscany Villas and who come to the region, it is an unmissable spot for at least a day-trip or two but if you want to dive in a little deeper – though any one trip will only allow you to scratch the surface of what it is on offer – then you could book one of our vacation rentals in Florence, instead. 

If you find yourself enjoying a stay in one of our villas in Florence and you are looking to bring back a little of this extraordinary city home with you as souvenirs to remind yourself of your trip or as gifts for friends and family, then you are probably considering what kinds of things you might purchase. Of course, there will be all sorts of touristy bits and bobs to buy all over the city but Florence, in particular offers some really special crafts, goods, and specialities that make for very chic souvenirs. Here is our countdown of the best things to bring back from the birthplace of the Renaissance...

Are you a serious foodie planning a culinary escape in Tuscany? Are you booking a villa in Florence with us? Well, then you definitely need to visit Pegna dal 1860! Located in a former monastery building dating back to the 17th century, this incredible culinary institution of the city sells gourmet groceries that are bound to have your mouth watering. If you’re serious about eating well and you are planning on a vacation in Florence, you can’t miss it!

One of the things that Florence has long been famous for is her leather goods and those serious fashionistas who book a luxury villa in Florence and are looking to perfectly complete an outfit with the ideal finishing touch should make sure to swing by Madova.

Located on Via de' Guicciardini, Madova is over a century old, dating all the way back to 1919 and is entirely dedicated to gloves made from artisanal leather. In fact, it is the only shop in Europe that still exclusively produces and sells leather gloves.