Tuscany Holidays

Renowned more for its classical architecture than for its bargain shopping, Florence was, in fact, the historical home of fashion in Italy. Home to the likes of Giovanni Battista Giorgini, the father of the Italian school of fashion (the country's equivalent of France's haute couture), Giorgini held informal fashion shows and soirées in Florence in the early 1950s. When shopping, Florence still manages to pack a powerful punch compared to sister cities Rome and Milan. With everything from luxurious designer boutiques and vast shopping malls to bustling open-air markets and street-side hawkers, visitors to Florence can shop to their hearts' content.

Head to the Via de' Tornabuoni, Florence's main upmarket shopping street, where luxury fashion houses and jewellery stores abound, and high-quality leather goods, shoes and clothing can be found; or head to The Mall, a huge designer outlet where labels such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Fendi and Burberry (to name a few) can be found. For jewellery, visit the Ponte Vecchio, where tiny shops dot the sides of this medieval bridge over the Arno River, while the place to find great antiques and objets d'art from the 16th century is the Via Maggio.

Those looking for a little less pricey should visit the local markets, such as San Lorenzo, a popular spot where souvenirs and leather goods abound. Head for the Mercato Centrale in Via dell'Ariento, the best food market in Florence, or visit the Sant'ambrogio in Piazza Ghiberti, where everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, cheeses, clothes, flowers, shoes and homeware stalls are plentiful.

Travellers should beware of buying fake designer goods from hawkers, as it is illegal and could lead to a hefty fine if caught by the police. Shops generally open from 9 am to 1 pm and reopen from 3.30 pm until 7 pm from Tuesday to Saturday. Most are closed on Sundays and Monday mornings.

The entire Renaissance city of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of Italy's most popular cities, with countless churches, cathedrals, art galleries, and museums. Deciding where to start your sightseeing tours may prove to be the most tricky part of the whole process, and that's not even considering the numerous stunning excursions into the Tuscany region possible from the city.

Head to the most popular site, the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore, which began construction in 1296, was consecrated in 1436, holds 20,000 people, and offers some breathtaking views over the city. Visit one of Florence's oldest buildings, the Baptistery of John the Baptist, to enjoy views over the Arno River, and stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the Giardino di Boboli to enjoy the park dotted with fountains behind the Pitti Palace. Navigate the crowds at the Uffizi Gallery, the Bargello, and the Florence Accademia, which exhibit some of the best art collections in the world.

Culture lovers will enjoy a trip to Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in Italy, which holds the tombs of Michelangelo and Dante, among others, as well as the Piazza Della Signoria, the heart of the historical centre and an open-air sculpture exhibit, where visitors can sip on a cup of coffee and watch the world go by from one of the surrounding cafés.