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Luisa
This alta moda boutique, a Florentine institution, is a one-stop shop for many of the world's top designers. It has its own small line and the haughtiest sales assistants in Florence.
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Madova
If it's quality leather gloves you're after, be they cashmere-lined or lambswool, you won't find a better selection or service than at this old favourite.
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Manetti & Masini
Since 1948 this classic ceramic store has been producing top-quality porcelain, specialising in reproduction antique majolica and restoring the genuine articles. Tucked away just off chic Via de' Tornabuoni, you could easily miss it.
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Marsili's
A chess player's dream store! Toss out your old magnetic set and indulge in a luxury game with characters from the Crusades for pieces, or perhaps Florentine mercenaries are more your thing? Or jump to the 21st century for modern metallic pieces and other imaginative options.
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McRae Books
A well-stocked English-language bookshop a stone's throw from Piazza della Signoria. Apart from the impressive range of reading material, it has the advantage of opening Sundays.
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Mercato Dei Pulci
This flea market is where the townsfolk gather to poke about amid the mountains of junk and bric-a-brac that every self-respecting household should be able to cough up sooner or later. From antique furniture to ancient comic books, all sorts of jumble turns up here. It's fun for a browse and occasionally you'll find genuinely interesting little items.
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Mercato Dell'antiquariato
A cheerful little antiques market with all sorts of odds and ends is held in this delightful square.
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Mercato di Sant'ambrogio
Buzzy and without the tourist-tat element, this produce market is the best place to do your daily hunting for fresh products, from fruit and veg to all sorts of local cheeses, sausages and other goodies.
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Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Follow your nose to this ancient Dominican apothecary, one of the world's oldest pharmacies. Housed in a 14th-century chapel, its ornately decorated and heavenly-scented rooms are stocked with a range of emollients, perfumes and herbal medicines designed to fix anything from tired eyes to cellulite.
Read more about Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
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Officine Panerai
This purveyor of watches has a special place in Italian hearts. The watches were first produced for Italy's navy divers in WWII. Nowadays the chunky nautical timepieces are collectors' items that can easily cost around €3000 . Upstairs from the store is a small archive with WWII photos of Italian navy commandos and their deadly (often for their crew) little manned torpedoes.
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Paperback Exchange
A vast collection of new and secondhand English-language books can be found here, including classics, contemporary literature, reference books, bestsellers and travel guides, as well as titles on the Renaissance and its major players.
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Parenti
Since 1855 the Parenti clan has steered this exclusive store down the decades, providing Florence's high and mighty with jewellery, silverware and gift items. The Italian royal family and Italian aristocrats would often seek out unusual and one-off pieces here. You can emulate them today.
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Parione
Established in 1923, this stationery shop gives you a sense of the long tradition of this Florentine craft. Expect adorable miniature bookshelves, puppet models, cards of every description, beautifully bound books and other paper products.
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Patrizia Pepe
This husband-and-wife team from nearby Prato put a contemporary spin on classic motifs to come up with uber sexy clothing perfect for the elegant girl-about-town.
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Pegna
A good selection of Tuscan and regional Italian specialities such as pâté, cheese, coffees, preserves and other stuff too good to be called just groceries can be found in this mini-supermarket.
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Peruzzi
A huge emporium containing all the things you can make from animal hide, this shop also sells designer clothing and accessories, has an alterations service and can personalise your purchases.
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Pineider
Italy's most exclusive stationer began business here in 1774 and once designed calling cards for the likes of Napoleon. You can get their elegant writing paper, stationery and other materials in branches around the world but it all still starts here.
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Prada
This century-old family business is best known for its simplicity in design and colour as well as the distinctive red stripe on the back heel of its shoes. Cutting-edge silhouettes and fabrics adopted by design junkies.
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Pusateri
Chic leather gloves in an array of colours, ranging from the vaguely loud and pastel to more subdued hues, will have ladies dreaming it is winter again.
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Raspini
A classic Florentine purveyor of fine footwear, with an enticing range of quality fashion for both sexes. They carry such designer names as Prada, Miu Miu and Armani. Now a prosperous chain across town, Raspini first got into business in 1965.
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Ricordi Mediastore
A reliable media store with jazz and classical downstairs, rock and pap (not a typo) in the middle, plus instruments and a huge range of sheet music and scores upstairs.
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Roberto Cavalli
Cavalli is riding a fashion-world wave with his rock-and-roll wardrobe. This is real-impact statement fashion with wild and wonderful creations from shoes and underwear to over-the-top overcoats.
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Salvatore Ferragamo
Another grand Florentine name, Ferragamo gained fame by custom making shoes for famous feet - think Katherine Hepburn. Men can order made-to-measure shoes and choose the material, from crocodile skin to classic leather. The boutique also turns out clothes and accessories for the more mature and conservative fashion follower.
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Scuola del Cuoio
If you're hell-bent on leather, you'll get a good idea of quality-price ratios at this guild (in the cloisters of Basilica di Santa Croce) where apprentices beaver away producing high-quality, old-fashioned products that you can even have stamped with your own mark.
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Sergio Rossi
Pop into what feels like Sergio's living room where, elegantly strewn about, you'll find some of his supersexy shoes for women - stilettos reign supreme. While steeped in the classic, his creations are innovative in colour and design.
