Outlet Shops in Italy
Shopping in Italy, after museums and monuments, is another great reason to travel to Italy. Italy’s hottest places to shop are the hidden-away designer outlet malls offering Italian top quality brands and Made in Italy’s Fashion at 30 to 75% off their original store prices.
This short list of Italy’s outlets is guaranteed to make your designer-loving heart go a-flutter and give you major mileage for your buck! And after a long day of glorious shopping afford your feet and credit card a well-deserved break by sampling tasty Italian food in a Slow Food Restaurant.
Castel Guelfo Outlet City
Castel Guelfo Outlet, just a short ride from Bologna and the Riviera of Romagna, is the ideal place for quality bargain shopping in the Emilia Romagna Region. At Castel Guelfo Outlet there are over 70 outlets selling men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, sportswear, accessories and cosmetics, with huge discounts on over 100 leading Italian and international brands. Castel Guelfo Outlet also features cafés, restaurants, children’s dedicated areas and lots of events designed to entertain families with kids.
Slow Food Restaurants:
Trattoria E’ Parlamintè | Via Mameli 33 | Imola
Best Bets: Culatello Ham | Meat Sauce Hand Made Tagliatelle | Rosemary Beef
Hostaria 900 | Viale Dante 20 | Imola.
Best Bets: Chianina Carpaccio | Tortellini in light broth | Lamb Rack
The Place Luxury Outlet
The Place Luxury Outlet is less than an hour’s drive from Milan or Turin showcasing the most prestigious Italian Fashion Designers such as: Ermenegildo Zegna, Agnona, Gucci, Sergio Rossi, La Perla and Vogart Sunglasses. The Place Outlet offers a wide selection of elegant clothing, Italian-Made shoes and classy accessories for both men and women, as well as a café and a fine restaurant that specializes in excellent Piedmont cuisine. A visit to The Place will transform a day of shopping into a true luxury experience!
Slow Food Restaurant:
Restaurant Baracca | Via Sant’ Eusebio 12 | Biella
Best Bets: Cold Cuts | Chilled Veal in Tuna Sauce | Cheese Ravioli
Veneto Designer Outlet
Veneto Designers Outlet is strategically located at less than one hour drive from Venice. The design inspiration for this outlet comes from the palazzos of the surrounding Veneto region paying homage to the classic Italian style. The buildings are laid out along streets, plazas and squares, some of which are lined with covered archways to give you the Venice feel, less the Gondola. There are over 140 stores including major fashion brands like Armani, Aspesi, Bikkembergs, Borbonese, Jill Sander, Les Copains, Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Valentino, and Costume National.
As added bonus in July and August Veneto Region will be the venue for Veneto Jazz Festival 2009 with an international star-studded program.
Slow Food Restaurants:
Osteria Cà D’Oro Detta Alla Vedova | 3912 Cannaregio Ramo Cà D’Oro | Venice
Best Bets: Busara Spaghetti | Liver Venetian Style | Polenta
Trattoria Dalla Marina | 652 Cannaregio Fondamenta San Giobbe | Venice
Best Bets: Gnocchi | Seafood | Tripe
Serravalle Designer Outlet
Serravalle Designer Outlet is located about halfway between Milan (80 kilometers) and Genoa (50 kilometers) and since its opening in September 2000 over 20 million conscious value fashion victims have visited these Made in Italy’s Mecca. The biggest and most impressive factory outlet in Europe, with a sales area of 40,000 square meters, consists of 180 stores, selling designer-label clothing, shoes and accessories, plus cafés, restaurants, fast food outlets, and a children’s playground.
Stores include Bulgari, Brooks Brothers, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss, La Perla, Roberto Cavalli, Prada, Frette, Ferragamo, Versace, Benetton, Bassetti, Mandarina Duck and much more.
Slow Food Restaurants:
Restaurant Cappelverde | Via San Pio, 26 | Alessandria
Best Bets: Pesto Lasagna | Chilled Veal in Tuna Sauce | Meat Sauce Agnolotti
Trattoria Razmataz | Via Bellini 24 | Alessandria Best Bets: Cheese Platter | Oxtail with Barbera | Tripe
Shop 'til You Drop for the Latest Fashion Items
The Mall or Gucci Factory Outlet
The Mall Outlet, set in the Tuscan Hills, is often referred to as the Gucci outlet and is located just a thirty-minute drive south of Florence on the way to Leccio. The Mall was opened on August 2001 and has since expanded now offering Italian and international luxury labels like Agnona, Alexander McQueen, Armani (3 shops), Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Diesel, Zegna, Fendi, Ferragamo, Gucci, Hogan, La Perla, Loro Piana, Marni, Pucci, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney, Tod’s, Valentino, Yohji Yamamoto, Yves Saint Laurent …. need more reasons to visit The Mall?!
The Mall is bargain hunting at it’s finest, very popular with tourists, expect busloads of Japanese shoppers, so arrive early as it is likely that you’ll have to queue your way out. For a break head to the on-site restaurant for tasty Tuscan food and wine.
Prada Outlet in Tuscany
Space or Prada Outlet | Via Levanella Becorpi | Montevarchi (AR)
Some 35 minutes away from either Arezzo or Florence, in the middle of nowhere, housed in a depot as big as an hangar, Prada Outlet, also known as Space is a not to miss experience for the value conscious fashionista! This is a shopping Mecca where you’ll find great bargains not only on Prada most coveted items but also on labels like Miu Miu, Car Shoe, and Church. It’s very easy to rack up a bill in the hundreds, but keep in mind you’d never find prices like this in a Prada store. This is by far my favorite factory outlet in Italy!
Slow Food Restaurants:
Antica Trattoria da Guido | Via Madonna del Prato 85 | Arezzo
Best Bets: Cold Cuts | Ribollita Soup | Rabbit stuffed with Artichokes
Enoteca La Torre di Gnicche | Piaggia San Martino 8 | Arezzo
Best Bets: Onion Soup | Pappa al Pomodoro | Zolfini Beans
Fidenza Village Outlet
Fidenza Village is one of Italy’s most popular outlet shopping centers, a lineup of 90 upscale stores and boutiques with famous designer outlets including Versace, Calvin Klein, D&G, Duvetica, Furla and Trussardi. Fidenza Village, midway between Milan and Bologna also offers, for a fee, expert style consultant services to guide customers towards exciting new looks.
Slow Food Restaurants:
Trattoria Ai 2 Platani | Via Budellungo, 104 | Parma
Best Bets: Parma Ham of course | Balsamic Vinegar Gnocchi | Cotechino
Trattoria Antichi Sapori | Via Montanata 318 | Parma
Best Bets: Culatello Ham | Ricotta Ravioli | Pork Knuckle
Barberino Designer Outlet
Barberino Designer Outlet is located just 20 minutes from Florence and less than an hour from Bologna, located in the beautiful natural environment of Valle della Sieve, resemble a Renaissance town. Here you can choose from more than 100 fashion stores including D&G, Jean Paul Gaultier, Les Copains, Missoni, Cavalli, Ferrè, Polo Ralph Lauren and Diesel, selling clothing, shoes, sports, accessories and much more. Avoid Sunday afternoon when it gets very crowded with locals and families. The good news for avid shoppers who don’t like driving, like me, is that there are daily shuttle services to/from Florence.
Slow Food Restaurant:
Ristorante Marisa | Via del Lago 21 | Barberino del Mugello ( My Favorite for a tasty Chianina Steak!)
Best Bets: Cold Cuts | Beans Soup | Chianina Beef
Castel Romano Designer Outlet
Castel Romano Designer Outlet, half an hour drive south of Rome, is one of two Designer Discount Outlet Malls travelers can reach easily from Eternal City. Castel Romano Designer Outlet is a very big mall, selling everything you could wish for, in a modern and tasteful environment. Since its opening in 2003 over 11 million visitors have come here to save money and find excellent bargains in the over 100 stores that offer the most prestigious Made in Italy brands like Trussardi, Ferrè, Malo, Valentino, Burberry, Valentino, Diesel, D&G, Zegna, Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli, Etro, and more so!
Slow Food Restaurants:
Ristorante Da Vittorio | Via Musco, 29 | Rome
Best Bets: Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe | Lamb | Roman Artichokes
Osteria Priscilla | Via Appia Antica 68 | Rome (Great Location!)
Best Bets: Amatriciana Gnocchi | Tagliatelle with Wild Boar Sauce | Tripe
Fashion District Valmontone Outlet
Fashion District Outlet is located in Valmontone about 40 km away from Rome, in the Roman Castles area famous for the locally produced Frascati White Whine. Spreading out on 45,000 square meters, it hosts 180 shops with a wide and wild choice of style and fashion including brands like Mariella Burani, Elena Miro, Luisa Spagnoli, Cacharel, Calvin Klein, Papermoon, Francesco Biasia, Coccinelle, Antica Murrina, Lamborghini and a lot more. A good news for avid shoppers who love shopping rather than driving is that there’s a daily shuttle bus to/from Rome Termini making sure you shop ’til you drop!
Slow Food Restaurants:
Ristorante Cacciani | Via A. Diaz 13 | Frascati
Best Bets: Tonnarelli Artichokes and Bacon | Lamb | Roman Chicken
Ristorante La Scuderia | P.le Sforza Pallavicini 1 | Genzano di Roma
Best Bets: Beans Soup | Ricotta Cheese Ravioli | Roman Tripe
Tod’s Outlet | Della Valle Factory Outlet | 134 Corso Garibaldi Casetta D’Ete | Ascoli Piceno
Up to 50% Discount on Tod’s shoes and clothing, Hogan, Fay and Koss
Bargains during Sales Season in Italy
Italy Shopping Tips:
Hire a Local Personal Shopping Guide: An expert personal shopper understands your needs and your budget. A local personal shopping guide knows all the stores, all the tricks and provides insights and Italy shopping tips. You will be treated like a star on your Italy shopping trip. When in Rome I strongly recommend to contact Stefania Troiani, a very professional and fun personal shopping guide in Rome.
Hitting the Sales: Twice a year, in January and July, outlets sell off seasonal stock at further reduced prices and you can enjoy an additional discount!
Tax Back: Non-EU residents can claim a tax refund (Approx. 14% Net) on VAT if they spend over €175 in any one day in one shop, and if they live outside the EU for more than six months in the year.
Have a Plan: Because you never know exactly what you may find at a Designer Outlet Mall, have a checklist of items you are looking for.
Be Smart: Clothing, no matter how cheap, is still a waste of money if it never gets worn. Ask yourself if you really have a reason to wear it in the next year.
Check the Web: Before departure visit the Outlet Official Website to check for on-going sales and clearance.
Ready? Take your pick – Italy has it all!
Would you like to share your Italy travel tips with us? Please write us your comment and we will be happy to post it! Buon Viaggio!
Ciao from Rome:-)
Nancy Aiello
ItalyTravelista.com
Join me on Twitter!
© Copyright 2009, Nancy Aiello Tours
Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours, based in Rome, specializes in Tailor-Made Private Guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers.
New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.
If you are interested in publishing a version of this article on your website please contact us for consent and further info.
Made in Italy with Style!
Rome is the capital of Italy and one of the world’s greatest historic cities.
Pasta. It is said that pasta was first brought to Italy by the ancient Greeks. The first form was called makaria, which is probably what we know as macaroni.
Shoes. Italian have a reputation for being stylish and well-dressed.
Pavarotti has become one of the most famous international opera stars this century. He has also helped to revive its popularity.
