Outlet stores near Florence
The following is a list of outlet stores in or around Florence. As shopping in the city has gotten more and more expensive, and always less exciting, I’ve taken to frequenting these places for wardrobe updates. Addresses, reviews, and directions are provided below.
UPDATED January 2009 with websites, maps, and updated reviews
For the most part, a car is necessary to get to them. Some companies offer “outlet tours”, and while I cannot endorse these because I haven’t tried them, Enjoy Florence has a pretty large selection.
Outlet Malls:
The Mall
Located near the INCISA exit off the A1 highway (Incisa is one exit south of Firenze Sud), follow signs for Leccio Regello, on a curvy road, through a small town, and the road ends at the modern buildings that make up this luxury outlet mall. Stores include Gucci, Armani, La Perla, Loro Piana, Pucci, Marni, Tods/Hogans, Burberry, YSL, Fendi, Balenciaga. Open 10-19 every day, 15-19 on Sundays. Sometimes crowded with bus tours, everyone seems to be buying something. Personally, it’s been about 5 years since I’ve found something here at what I consider a reasonable price.
Via Europa 8, 50060 Leccio Reggello (FI) (website)
Barberino Designer Outlet (McArthur Glenn)
To get here, take the A14 highway towards Bologna, get off at Barberino in Mugello. Follow the signs that say “Outlet” – the road is well marked. You will arrive in a valley to the little outlet village that is set up like a fake renaissance town. Very cute. The list of stores is too long to mention, see the official website. This outlet mall has some real discounts year-round and is officially the only place I buy clothing.
Valdichiana Outlet Village
At the Valdichiana exit south of Arezzo on the A1 highway, a slightly lower end outlet mall (think Benetton not Gucci). Has nike and addidas for sports wear, replay for jeans. For mens’ office-type clothes, Boggi Milano has lovely clothes though not always much selection of sizes and models. A large store called Valentino Fashion Group has both mens and womens’ clothing by Valentino, Marlboro Classics, and some lower-end brand names whose clothes have the same cut and manufacture, but slightly different cloth, as Valentino. Excellent selection of mens’ suits, pants, and shirts. Mariella Burani fashion group carries nice, classic womens’ clothing.
Open every day 10am to 8pm. To get there, take A1 highway to Valdichiana exit (from Florence, south towards rome). At the toll booth turn right and go over a bridge, straight around the roundabout, follow signs for outlet which is about 500 meters away (see website).
Individual stores:
Prada “Space outlet”, Montevarchi
This is the outlet everyone wants to visit, although in my esteemed opinion the prices have always been ridiculously high even at the outlet. Do not expect to find a purse or anything at all under a 100 euros. That said if you are a big fan and would have bought it in the store anyway, it’s worth a trip.
How to get there: take the Montevarchi exit off the A1 highway (that’s 2 exits south of Firenze Sud if you are coming from Florence). Follow the signs for the center of montevarchi, as well as the BLUE signs for Arezzo via SS69. Proceed through town on the SS69; you will hit some small groupings of buildings that are actually towns but you wouldn’t have known it. Eventually on your left you will see a modern building with a sign that says SPACE; enter there. If you pass under a train bridge you have gone too far.
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Roberto Cavalli
Last year’s Cavalli duds at 50% off. Via volturno 3, Sesto Fiorentino/ Osmannoro (near the Florence IKEA). Open M-Sat 10-19.
