Melissa’s Favorite New Finds in Florence

Indagare founder Melissa Biggs Bradley shares some of her favorite new finds in Florence.

Shops

Aquazzura

The charming founder of this storied shoe brand divides his time between Venice and Florence, but keeps his office in a palazzo overlooking the Arno. This is also where he opened his flagship store, which has his gorgeous new collection of housewares.

Atelier C.

The two creatives behind this boutique bring together a love for clean lines, artisanship and personal creativity. Marco, the fashion designer, who creates the bespoke dresses and blouses, and Alice, who designs the decorative objects and furniture on display, team up on the design of the custom handbags. All three genres of products are special but the elegant, one-of-a-kind purses in a variety of sleek shapes and styles steal the show.

Carolina Bucci

The fourth generation of this goldsmithing family has transformed an old pharmacy space right on the Arno into a her gleaming new jewelry shop. The family’s signature pieces focus on woven gold—which consists of silk-thin, 18 karat gold threads woven on an antique textile loom into precious strand—but there is also a fun, inexpensive line that is popular with teens and incorporates colored beads.

Bottega Giotti

This is the family that created the original woven Bottega Veneta bags, and they are still making classic versions along with great leather jackets. Make sure to check out the deer skin reversible ones (similar to suede on one side and to calfskin but waterproof on the other).

Flair

The owner of this antiques shop on the Arno has a great eye for antique and mid-century modern pieces and a true flair for putting them together in the frescoed spaces of his gallery/showroom. Come for inspiration and treasures.

Atelier Rina Milano

If you like the understated, sophisticated style of Florence’s old guard like the Antinoris or of actress Susan Sarandon, head to this atelier over the Arno for custom tailored designs.

Verderoccia

The new linen shop started by the Pratesi family creates custom bed and table linens and sells their new collection of sophisticated styles with great colors in the softest percale, cashmere and terry. Interior designers from around the world fly in to consult for their royal and spare-nothing clients.

Sights

Palazzo Davanzati Museum

One of the city’s lesser known museums, the Palazzo Davanzati recently reopened after a major renovation. The medieval-era palace features spectacular frescoed rooms in a rare decorative style from the 15th century as well as a fabulous textile collection.