Go Shopping on the Ponte Vecchio Shops in Florence

Shopping on Ponte Vecchio: A Complete Guide to Florence's Historic Bridge

It's like that saying, "Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop." There is something amazing about finding exactly those things you are searching for and stumbling upon other incredible finds.

While everyone knows about Milan and Rome for fashion and many have discovered the charming wood carvings from Val Gardena in the north, visitors will find Italian cities all boast incredible shops with clothes, accessories, shoes, jewelry, objets d’art, and more.

Now, realizing that most men shop for what they need while women, as they say, go shopping to find out what they want, there is a wonderful stop on Florence tours with broad appeal for less enthusiastic browsers and serious shoppers alike.

Hungry after all that shopping? For an insider's perspective on Florence's most prestigious shopping areas and hidden gems, consider joining our Private Florence Food Market Tour, where you'll discover local specialties while exploring the city's historic markets.

Why Shop on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence, Italy?

The Ponte Vecchio is a historic bridge lined with shops that spans the narrowest point of the Arno River in Florence, Italy. Originally the shops here were highly functional, most of them butcher shops.

Today the bridge, which is a closed-spandrel segmental stone arched bridge that miraculously survived the Second World War mostly unscathed, is home to charming and intriguing shops filled with jewelry shops.

On the other side of the Arno River, called Oltrano, there are many more artisan shops filled with accessories, artwork, antiques, jewelry, Florentine mosaics, and all manner of bric-à-brac. To truly appreciate the artistic heritage of both sides of the Arno, join our Private Florence Oltrarno & Artisan Tour to discover authentic craftsmen workshops and historic boutiques away from the tourist crowds.

Exploring the Ponte Vecchio can be a wonderful shopping experience for any visitors to Italy but walking through the historic corridor as part of Avventure Bellissime’s Private Florence Original Renaissance Walking Tours will enhance your understanding of this destination as part of Italy’s rich cultural past.

A licensed, expert tour guide will escort you for three hours through the scenic streets and piazzas of Florence, sharing the entire time about the important aspects of Renaissance life in Florence that shaped the city, Italy, and the rest of the world.