Barberino del Mugello Shopping Village

Shopping lovers who find themselves on holiday in the picturesque setting of Tuscany are recommended to add a stop at the Barberino di Mugello Shopping Village to their itinerary.

Alongside the famous boutiques and fashion houses that line the streets of Florence, Pisa and Siena, this sprawling designer outlet is filled with shops selling every label you can imagine. Constructed in 'mock' Renaissance style, the dozens of shops are interspersed with columns, piazzas and pseudo period features creating an elegant setting for making your purchases.

The village runs alongside the banks of a charming river which is connected by a series of characteristic wooden bridges. There is also ample free parking, ideal for when you have to carry your heavy bags filled with the day’s spoils back to your car.

Whatever designer name takes your fancy, be it Prada, Guess or Calvin Klein to name but a few, there is enough choice to keep everybody happy. And after all that shopping there are elegant squares where you can enjoy a coffee and a snack or treat yourself to lunch or dinner.

The modern stores are lined with dazzling displays in every shop window, old style inns sit alongside old-fashioned craft shops giving the whole centre the feel of a bygone age. At dusk the street lamps cast a gentle glow adding to the magical atmosphere.

So between visiting the Renaissance gems of Florence or the vineyards of Chianti, make sure you take some time out to visit the Barberino di Mugello for that perfect souvenir of your stay in Tuscany.