The leather market ★★★

Florence's outdoor San Lorenzo leather market is a great place to bargain for a classic Florentine souvenir

The San Lorenzo leather market.
The San Lorenzo leather market.
Break out your haggling skills, the streets around San Lorenzo church are packed with stalls peddling knock-off Gucci scarves, souvenir T-shirts, marbleized paper products, jewelry, wallets, and especially leather—great place to shop for a leather jacket for yourself, and stock up on belts, purses, and wallets as gifts.

Many stalls are really just outposts for the stores behind them, and every owner seems to speak English better than you, so be ready for the hard sell.

(Actually, for most of the workers and, increasingly, the owners of the leather market stalls, it's Italian that is their third language, after English and whatever it was they grew up speaking—usually Albanian.)

Be firm, be patient, and you should be able to bargain your way down to a decent number and get the goods at a price you're willing to pay. You should be able to get a jacket for not much more than €100–€150.

If nothing else, the market is a carnival of colors and noise and, so long as you watch out for pickpockets, can be a welcome, earthy break from all that art and a nice photo opportunity.

Tips & links

Details
ADDRESS

The streets around Piazza San Lorenzo and Mercato Centrale, especially Via del Canto de' Nelli, Via dell'Ariento, and Via Sant'Antonino

OPEN

Daily 8am–8pm (later if business is booming)
Closed Mon in winter (Nov-Feb)

TRANSPORT

Bus: C1
Hop-on/hop-off: Stazione FS SMN (A, B), Piazza Stazione (C)

TOURS
Bargain, bargain, bargain

This is one place where you can haggle even in the shops.

Beware of pickpockets.

Seriously! Keep an eye on your belongings!

How long does Mercato San Lorenzo take?

Planning your day: It's shopping, so take as long as you lke.

If you just want to wander through a bit and take some photos, set aside 15–25 minutes.

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Mercato San Lorenzo
★★★
ADDRESS

The streets around Piazza San Lorenzo and Mercato Centrale, especially Via del Canto de' Nelli, Via dell'Ariento, and Via Sant'Antonino

OPEN

Daily 8am–8pm (later if business is booming)
Closed Mon in winter (Nov-Feb)

TRANSPORT

Bus: C1
Hop-on/hop-off: Staione FS SMIN (A, B), Piazza Stazione (C)

TOURS


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