Florence is known for the high quality of its artisanal goods resulting from its ancient traditions of craftwork, with skills passed down from generation to generation. The attractions to shoppers stretch from hand-tooled leather to marbleized paper, high fashion, elegant shoes, Florentine 'mosaics' which are in fact works of inlaid stone called pietre dure, finely crafted gold jewelry, antiques and wines and cheeses. Designer elegance
The finest shopping street in Florence is the elegant Via Tornabuoni, which runs from Piazza Santa Maria Novella, near the train station, and the Arno. Here you will find the crème de la crème of Florentine shopping -- leather goods of the highest quality, designer clothing boutiques, with the likes of Armani, Gucci, Ferragamo and Mila Schön tucked away in palaces of old. The shopping area extends along Via della Vigna Nuova and other surrounding streets. Precious metals and jewelry
Many are drawn to Florence by the gold and silver jewelry worked by artisans in their tiny shops along the Ponte Vecchio. The gold and silversmiths have been famed since since the 16th century, and the quality of the craftsmanship is of a very high quality to this day. Local color
If you enjoy the fun of haggling, the place to be is the noisy, colourful street market of San Lorenzo, though it must be said it is something of a tourist draw. Antiques and antiquities
With its long and rich history, Florence is a haven for antiques lovers, which you can see piled high along Via Maggio and other streets in the Oltrarno. Some of the furnishings and objets d'art to be found here date from 16th century. Another good location for antique magpies is the flea market near Piazza Santa Croce, where the keen-eyed can find good deals on small antique items. The market expands into the adjacent streets on the last Sunday of every month, except in July. Perfumes
Florence is also home to one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, the Antica Officina di Santa Maria Novella, where it is possible to buy essences and perfumes made to formulas that were created in the sixteenth century for Caterina de' Medici. For the gourmand
The city also has a thriving food and wine culture, and there is no end of choice when it comes to cheeses and cured meats on sale in its numerous delicatessens. Florence is also bursting with wine-cellars where visitors can taste and buy refined wines and fine extra-virgin oils. | 
