Pick up a Prada

Visitors to Italian shopping outlets outside Florence can be assured of some really good bargains. Half an hour’s drive away from the city are two outlets, The Mall and the newly-opened Fashion Valley. Located in the Tuscan countryside, The Mall has a well landscaped but simple setting, one restaurant, and is open from 7am-10pm daily.

As well as Italian brands such as Prada, Gucci, Armani, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Valentino and Ferragamo, it also stocks Burberry, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Yves St Laurent and Dior, at 30-50 per cent reductions. You can get there by train (then taxi), which takes about half an hour, or you can take a SITA bus near Santa Maria Novella train station (Europa 8, Leccio Reggello).

Five minutes from there is a new outlet, Fashion Valley, which opened last November and where discounted brands include Versace, Marc Jacobs, Hogan, Vivienne Westwood and Red Valentino. (Localita Ruota al Mando, Reggello). Meanwhile, set the GPS to find the vast Prada outlet at Via Levanella Becorpi, Localita Levanella, S.S. 69, Montevarchi, a 40-minute drive from Florence. It’s a big, airy space, beautifully organised, where you can get decent discounts on handbags,wallets, shoes and more. Hard to find, but worth the trip.