Shopping for high fashion in Livorno Italy.
With a couple of colorful markets, high-fashion shops, artisan’s studios, and jewelry and leather goods boutiques, there are plenty of good shopping opportunities in Livorno.
Most people who visit Livorno, bypass it and head for Florence. But those who do, spend quite a bit of time coming and going. And many of the same things you would buy in Florence are available in Livorno, but less expensive. So consider staying in Livorno instead.
As a rule, shops close for several hours at lunch, and many are only open Tuesday through Saturday.
The first stop for shoppers in Livorno should be the Mercato Centrale on Scale Saffi. With more than 200 shops and stalls selling everything from soup to nuts – literally – this huge food market in an old Art Nouveau building designed by Angiolo Badaloni is a must for food lovers. It’s open daily, except for Sundays.
There’s a big flea market on Friday mornings on Via dei Pensieri. It starts at the football stadium. There’s raw and prepared foods, shoes, clothes, housewares, crafts, and collectibles. You can pick up a rotisserie chicken or some good salami and cheese for lunch.
First opened in 1944 to sell goods to American servicemen, the Mercatino Americano was recently relocated from Piazza XX Settembre to the port. Today, it’s a flea market that sells a little bit of everything, from all over the world. You can still find U.S. Army issued uniforms and hardware too.
The best street for shopping is Via Grande, which begins near the Quattro Mori statue. There are several good Italian restaurants if you get hungry. It has beautiful designer boutiques in the porticoes along either side of the street. Another good street is Via Ricasoli. To reach it, take Via Cairoli from Piazza Grande past Piazza Cavour.
The best antique shopping in Livorno is in the Venezia Nuova quarter on Borra. On the first Saturday and Sunday of the month, there’s a popular antique market.
High-fashion lovers can find top designer clothes at deep discounts at the outlets outside Florence. Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fendi all have outlets about 80 minutes from Livorno. And the outlet mall in Leccio has Alexander McQueen, Emanuel Ungaro, Gucci, Feragamo, Yves Saint Laurent, and many other designer stores. Prices at the mall are between 30 – 70% off retail.