Shopping

Some tourists spend almost their entire time in Tuscany shopping. While we don't recommend that extreme, each of us had a unique shopping experience, which we share here:

LEATHER MARKET LOW-DOWN

By: Kim Manning

Carts line the street and pedestrians mosey through the leather market in Piazza San Lorenzo. Beautiful bags, jackets and shoes line the walkways taunting each passerby. The bright colors flail in the wind and each shop keeper tries their hardest to get you to purchase something from them. The first time I ever walked down that street, I didn’t realize the intensity of the people. “You buy now!” said one man. He angrily tried forcing a bag in my hand. He tried to knock down the price. He tried to show me other options. Apparently, window shopping is not accepted here. My initial experience made me not want to go back, but the gorgeous bags and belts over rid that thought. At my second experience at the leather market, I looked from afar. The eager shop keepers are just a little too forward for me and looking from a distance made the experience much more enjoyable. As soon as I saw something that caught my eye, I made my way over. I prepared for the worst. I found a burnt orange leather bag. It had tie straps and could be used as a shoulder bag, or draped across your body, 30 euro in cash (35 on a card).

In addition, eager shoppers can find bracelets 2 for 5 euro or scarves 3 for 15. The leather market also has little souvenirs and knick knacks to buy for your loved ones at home.

NECESSARY ACCESSORIES
By Ashley McHale


By: Ashley McHale
Shopping for clothing and accessories in Italy can be a little intimidating, considering Italians hold fashion in such high regard. Going with my preconceived notions of fashion I think it is smart to purchase a few staple pieces,interchangeable and affordable.

After arriving in Florence and seeing the sleek, flowing styles worn by the locals made me immediately want to go shopping and use their trends as my influence. I started small by picking up a belt in the leather market. Leather is worn by nearly every Italian I see, whether it be a belt, shoes or a bag. Genuine Italian leather is a common commodity in Florence but finding the right stand with a reasonable price is key.

I had been seeing statement belts warn on the high waist in a variety of colors. I loved how flattering they looked on the women I had seen and knew I needed one. I chose a neutral color so that it would match a few tops and dresses, that way I could get a lot of use out of it. It was only 10 euro and great quality.

Accessories are my favorite thing to shop for because you can wear some almost everyday, whereas your favorite dress or top can only be worn every so often. Keeping that in mind, I continued my quest for fine Italian accessories. I next purchased a black leather bag at a small shop down the street from the leather market. It has excellent quality and can be worn four different ways. It's a medium-large size and was 60 euro.


All I can look forward to now is wearing my authentic accessories at home and wait to be asked, "Where did you get that?" And say, casually, " Oh I bought it in Florence."

EMERGENCY SHOPPING

by Pamela Birchard

When I arrived in Florence, my luggage did not until three days later. You never know when you might need essential items in a foreign country, where you don't understand the labels or know the place to buy them. Take a toothbrush for instance. It cost me 3 euros. And deodorant, which is hard to come by, cost 5 euros. Wearing the same clothes for three days is no fun, so even finding a place that sells undergarments at a decent price is also tricky, costing me 11 euros for three pairs. It frustrates me because i know i have these things in my suitcase and it is missing somewhere in the airline's monitoring system. Not only do you need to prepare for dire situations like that, but think of all the additional necessities, especially when the trip lasts for a month and you'll be staying in a vacant apartment.

Of all the things I knew I needed to get, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, trash bags, and food of course, some items made the shopping list I would never expect.



Our apartment windows are open and bare, no screens included. This is an easy target for bugs, and on the first, hot and humid night, mosquitoes had a feast on my skin. We thought "OFF!" candles would do the trick. No such luck. But if "Vape Zanzare" didn't signify the product, the image of a fly did. They looked like spiral incense, smelled like a campfire, and didn't solve the problem sufficiently. The next time, we found plug ins, and since then, the bites have been few and far between.

Luckily, supermarkets and pharmacies are all around the center of the city. Just look for "Despar" or "Supermercati II Centro." A pharmacy is always noticeable by the lit-up green cross, but all are closed on Sunday. The supermarkets are open until around 7 or 8 p.m. If you come prepared, you may only need to visit each place one time.

TIPS:
Bring your toothbrush and any other immediate toiletries in your carry-on. They must meet airport regulations for liquids but it's worth feeling clean after a long flight.

Make sure your apartment or hostel is equipped, otherwise you might find yourself drying off with a pillowcase or tossing and turning on a bare mattress.

When purchasing an European adapter at your local electronic store, read the label since a typical adapter is different from an Italian one, which usually has smaller prongs.

HAND-MADE ITALIAN SANDALS

By: Christen Calloway

While some of the shops in Florence claim to sell handmade Italian shoes, I stumbled upon an actual shoemaker and his shop, Lavorazione Artigiana, in the West Oltrarno one evening. I have to ring the doorbell before the shoemaker lets me in. I wander around the tiny storefront and see his workshop through the open wooden door. I look at the unique designs of his shoes and he tells me he makes all of them. Looking at the shoes, I see they are stamped with his logo, “Francesco Da Firenze: Al Ponte Alla Carraia.” I find a comfortable pair of brown leather sandals and choose to spend the extra Euro for something handmade.

Francesco Da Firenze: Lavorzione Artigiana is located at Via Santo Spirito 62 r, Firenze.