Have a look at the Mall's website - www.mcarthurglen.it/barberino/home/home.php

I can't see a chanel outlet. As far as i understand, the goods are last season's ones, or goods which have been damaged or discontinued, or goods which are there at no huge discounts.

There is also a Prada et al outlet intuscany.net/guides/shopping_spacci_2.htm which is somewhere else alltogether.

There are shuttles doing one or both. Cost is around 25 euro - recently there was a bad review of the CAf mall tour.

Hi. I visited the Mall last year and was quite disappointed. A lot of the stuff is still fairly expensive (for my pocket anyway!) and is obviously stuff which didn't sell in the first place. I spent half a day visiting it - in my opinion it was time wasted that I could have spent in lovely Florence!

Actually, Anon, I beg to differ.

My wife and I have been to "The Mall" on quite a few occasions.

A few times, we have (happily!) left with nothing.

Most of the time, we (by which I mean she) have found something of real interest. When we were last there, at the end of August, she found an absolutely stunning scarf at Ferregamo for 30 percent off the regular price, and I found two superb ties, one at Armani and the other at Burberry.

Over the past few years, she has bought a number of things at Armani and elsewhere, and I have bought a couple of pairs of classic loafers, a wallet, and a few other things, at Gucci, all for far, far less than you would pay in the shop. I have also bought her a couple of gifts at Ferregamo.

That being said, some things are "classics" - like the Gucci loafers (which I got for less than half the price on the Via Tornabuoni) - some things are "out of date". Some things are in perfect condition - some things are not. Some things they have in all sizes - some things just in unpopular sizes.

In short, these are real "outlets", and you have to pay attention, and it makes no sense to go there if you do not know what the regular prices are.

My wife and I visited the Mall and "Space Outlet" (Prada at Montevarchi)last week. We drove using satnav but in a hire car by yourself neither is to hard to find. The Mall is a series of shops arranged roughly around a grassed area with plenty of parking behind. As these are designer labels dont go hoping to find something to fit you if you dont fall into the UK 6 - 12 size range. I dont recall seeing Chanel, a brand that is renowned for not discounting its products, but there are many other brands to chose from.

Space Outlet deals solely in Prada and if you get there first thing there is a lengthy queue and you have to take a numbered ticket like at the deli counter in some shops. Again a good selection of pricey goods. Price depends how much you want to wear a particular brand. Bags started at 130 euros for a small messenger bag and went into three and four figures. There was plenty to chose from. My wife was in heaven but we too came away empty handed as neither of us felt that the goods were for us. If driving from Florence use Google maps to plan the route doing The Mall first as it is nearer.

The address for Space is

Strada Statale 69, Levanella Spacceo, Montevarchi, Italy

Happy shopping

Thanks guys for your response. Any idea if outlet shopping is better in Milan or Florence? If Milan is better, can someone let me know the address too?

Thanks a mio !

Have a look here www.mcarthurglen.it/serravalle/home/home.php…

and here http://www.vicolungooutlets.com/

And there are probably more - ask on the Milan forum as well.

I went to the Space (Prada) and the Mall outlet in March on CAF tour. I found it expensive and frankly not worth the time.

I think we had about 45 minutes at Prada which simply was not long enough. Barely had time to get to the bus - the queue to pay was long and the driver left 2 couples behind.

I found the Mall small and overrated. Prices too high.

Milan is a much better bet for Outlet shopping. Serravella is great, but don't expect bargains for the big brands, but the complex is huge with far more selection than Florence.

Great prices at Serravella on hard covered Samsonite suitcases. Try to go during the week as weekends and public holidays are packed.

There are plenty of outlets in the City Centre - ask your hotel to give you a list.

Serravella is about an hour away - tour costs euro 20, leaves the Castle at 10 am and you return at 4 p.m. Not long enough the first time, but once you know which shops you wish to visit, it is perfect.

How long is the drive from centre Florence to the Mall and Prada? I reckon its better to drive then to take a bus? Should we be traveling there from Florence or from Siena - sorry not sure of the directions!! Also, I will be going there during end Nov, will the shops be closing earlier and what time does it get dark? Opps... is that too many questions in a post....

Please advise...totally clueless :P

The Outlet Malls are about an hour's drive by bus from the Centre of Florence.

I went in March 08 and it was cold and twilight, but the shops did not close early. Cannot remember the closing times, perhaps someone living in Florence could reply to that one.

I see Anon has mentioned the MC ARTHUR GLENN BARBERINO outlet. Has anyone been to this outlet mall.

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