261686 Thu Aug 15 14:32:40 -0700 2002 17 26 International 0 1382850 Can anyone tell me exactly where in relation to Florence and/or Siena the Prada outlet is and how far time/distance-wise if we have a car? If you've been, I'd appreciate any information you can give me! We are going in the fall and in planning our itinerary, I want to make sure we fit it in! Thu Aug 15 14:32:40 -0700 2002 0 Shelly 1 1382851 I wrote this for something else, but here's the info you need on Prada: PRADA OUTLET, Localitàà Levanella, SS 69 52025 Montevarchi Tel : +39 055 91 901 Just outside the industrial town of Montevarchi in the tiny hamlet of Levanella is the holy grail for those who like the style, but can’t afford the prices. Personally, I was shocked by the prices at the outlet store. However, after going to the retail stores in Florence and Milan, I realized that there are some “deals” here, depending upon your definition of the term. When my wife and I decided that we wanted to go, I scoured the Internet trying to figure out how to get there. The directions that I found were horrible. Going there, we passed it twice without even realizing that it was there. Therefore, in the interest of wives who put up with their husband’s chowhounding, I give you HOW TO GET TO THE PRADA OUTLET IN TUSCANY: Get off the A1 at the exit for Valdarno. From the exit, follow the signs for Montevarchi. Go through the town of Montevarchi. At the end of the town, there will be an Agip gas station on your right and a sign that says “Leaving Montevarchi”. Immediately, there will be a traffic light. At that light, make a left onto Levanella. As you make the turn, there will be a peach building with a terra cotta roof on your right. Follow Levanella around behind the industrial complex on your left. The entrance to the Prada outlet is in the back of the complex. The store is called “Space” and not Prada. If you leave Montevarchi and enter Levarne, you’ve gone too far. If you get really lost, ask anyone who lives or works in the area for Prada and they should be able to point you in the right direction. Thu Aug 15 14:38:10 -0700 2002 1382850 0 mattylip 2 1382852 Thank you so much for the information! Where is it in relation to Florence or Siena? I think we're going to do a day trip from Florence to Sangimiano, Siena and the outlets - hopefully that's not overly eager. Any thoughts regarding best time of day to go are appreciated. Also, I've read mixed things regarding if the outlets are open on sunday or not. Did you go to any other outlets besides Prada? Thanks again Thu Aug 15 14:51:16 -0700 2002 1382851 0 Shelly 3 1382853 If I recall correctly, it was about an hour or so from Florence without traffic. It's approximately 5 miles off the A1, but getting through Montevarchi can be slow. Find the Valdarno exit on a map and you'll easily see where it is in relation to other towns. We drove from Chianti and then on to Florence so I don't how far it was from Siena, but Siena and Florence are only about 40 miles apart. Everything is (to me at least) surprisingly close in that region. I don't recall whether it was open on Sunday, but I would doubt it. It was closed for a half hour in the afternoon to restock. Also, when it gets busy, you're required to take a number and wait until your number is called to go in. I think it's better to go earlier rather than later. We didn't go to any other outlets. Thu Aug 15 15:05:29 -0700 2002 1382852 0 mattylip 3 1382858 Right offhand, Id say thats rather a doubtful plan. If you think of Florence at the top of Tuscany, the A1 is like one leg of a triangle running toward Arezzo; Montevarchi (an industrial town, basically) is on that leg right near the A1. The road to San Gimignano runs south and a bit west of Florence. So the two route are a bit like a triangle with the entire Chianti district in between. Having spent a fair amount of time getting stuck behind slow traffic trying to travel east and west between Siena and the A1, I think you are going to be spending your whole day driving rather than enjoying these destinations. If you will be in Florence for several days, better to jaunt down to Montevarchi in a morning or afternoon - it is a quick trip on the autostrada, or if you are continuing onto Rome, dropping in on the way down. As I mentioned, Arezzo is close by, and lovely town to visit; among the signts there is Piero della Francesca's masterpiece, the frescos of the "Legend of the True Cross". Siena itself is well worth a full day visit, and combining it with a trip to San Gimignano will be plenty. Enjoy your trip to Tuscany! Thu Aug 15 20:19:39 -0700 2002 1382852 0 jen kalb 3 1382917 in between florence and siena Sun Aug 18 03:18:34 -0700 2002 1382852 0 sk 3 1382924 There are worthwhile outlets all over Italy from Biella (near Malpensa, i.e. Zegna) south through Tuscany. Do a search for "Italy outlets.' You are looking for Bentley's Made In Italy and go to their list of outlets. It is incredible. My wife and I have done several trips to Italy in December and January just to go shopping. Remember the outlets have seasonal sales that take an additonal 30 to 40% of the outlet price. This amounts to 75% or more off of the American price. Also, CALL THE MANUFACTURER and ask them where their outlet is located. Most operators speak English. They ALL sell surplus inventory somewhere. You can buy it! This is true for other countries and includes everything from Mont Blanc pens (outlet in Dusseldorf) to Lladro. Yes Lladro. They have a room at the factory in Valencia. By the way you can also buy direct from retail stores in Europe who will ship directly to you in the U. S. Generally this is 40 to 50% off of the American price. The only thing you have to remember is that there is a real hit or miss element to this. Finally, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE RETAIL PRICE OF MERCHANDISE FROM ONE ITALIAN CITY TO ANOTHER. For example Testoni shoes which sell for $600 to 700 in New York and L. A. are about half of this in Rome, Florence and Venice. In Bologna, where they are made, they start at $250 and most are in the $290 to $310 range. For the same shoe. Or belt. Or bag. Sun Aug 18 20:19:15 -0700 2002 1382852 0 Joe H. 4 1382925 Clarification about hit or miss point: I am speaking of going to the outlets. If you go looking for a men's shirt in size 16 remember that first, you are looking for European sizes and second, this will be hit or miss. Go with an open mind and not seeking a specific item. Just hope that you might find it. My wife brought a Bruno Magli $2,400 mink collared black leather trench coat (source: Nieman Marcus in Dallas where we saw it on the shelf) at the Bruno Magli store in Milan for $450. She went looking for shoes. About buying direct from retail stores in Europe: when you buy an item in a store THERE, take their card. Write down the name of the English speaking clerk who helped you. This is who you can call later to buy from them direct when you return to the states. Sun Aug 18 20:23:26 -0700 2002 1382924 0 Joe H. 5 1382938 Thank you so much for the information! Do you think doing a day trip from Florence to Sangimiano, Siena and Prada then back to Florence is too much for one day? Mon Aug 19 12:01:33 -0700 2002 1382925 0 Shelly 6 1382942 Siena is a city that will not fully reveal itself to you even if you stay there a year. For San Gimigniano, a day is scarcely enough. If you are a serious shopper, the outlet stores will take you an hour or so each. (Two hours for Prada if the shoes are as well-stocked as they were this June.) And has been stated earlier, if you are in Montevarchi, you are within a few minutes of the gorgeous heart of Chianti and Piero's magnificent fresco cycle in Arezzo's San Francesco church, which many people, sometimes including myself, consider the greatest artistic achievement of the Renaissance. It is, to put it mildly, too much for one day. Mon Aug 19 13:14:00 -0700 2002 1382938 0 silver queen 7 1382975 If we were to cut out either Siena or Sangimiano which would you suggest? Wed Aug 21 19:02:25 -0700 2002 1382942 0 Shelly 6 1382947 In addition to outlets don't overlook the following: gold (that's right gold) is cheaper in Vicenza, Bologna and some cities (specific stores in Venice) than in the U. S. Most stores will negotiate. The difference can be startling: a US $2,200 bracelet appraised here for $6,300! Generally 18K gold-if you are a good shopper and can negotiate-will appraise for two and one half to three times the price you pay in America. Don't overlook porcelain. Hand painted porcelain south of Florence. This is where much of it comes from. There are factories which are mentioned in guidebooks (Fodor's, Fieldings, etc.) that have outlets in their building or nearby. Generally you will pay half the American price. Wine. Prior to this year's conversion to the Euro wine and other foodstuffs sold for half the American price. There has been some gouging this year but the bargains-at all levels-are still there. Clothing. You're focusing on outlets. In the regular stores the price is considerably cheaper in Italy than in America. With the Italian outlets (or special sales in the regular stores) you are going after deals north of 70% off. As the post below notes if you are really into shopping a day trip is really not enough. Depending on your addiction a week or more and searching the whole country may be necessary. Look up the website I noted above. Whether its Frette linens or Etro shirts or Gucci there are worthwhile bargains throughout the country. If you only have an afternoon of course you should go. But you'll be giving yourself a reason to come back and spend longer. And more money! Mon Aug 19 15:03:21 -0700 2002 1382938 0 Joe H. 2 1382875 As you go into Montevarchi from the A1, keep following the blue signs pointing towards Arezzo, starting at the massive traffic circle. This will keep you on the correct road. And the yellow sign on the road going past the outlet - - which has a long, jagged roofline - - says only Pelleteria d'Italia. A sort of mall containing outlets for Armani, Gucci, Loro Piana, and Dolce & Gabanna is a few towns over. The Prada outlet, btw, is indeed open on Sunday. And is in a region with many, many fine restaurants (the best fine-dining one is Osteria Rendola, although you'll have to wrest the name of my favorite country osteria out of my cold, dead fingers), and is perfectly situated for the beginning point of a long, scenic drive through the Chianti Classico wine country. The outlet is, though, often closed for a couple of weeks in August. Call first. Fri Aug 16 12:25:58 -0700 2002 1382851 0 silver queen 3 1382915 How far over is a few towns over? Did you think the Prada outlet was worth it? What about Gucci, etc? We are thinking of taking a day trip from Florence to Sangimiano, Siena and the outlets, then back to Florence. What do you think? Is it possible to do all that in one day? Sun Aug 18 01:30:36 -0700 2002 1382875 0 Shelly 2 1383036 Does it open on saturday, and do they open during the lunch time? thank you Sat Oct 19 06:58:52 -0700 2002 1382851 0 Jane 3 1383037 Yes!!! They are open on Saturdays, and from what my friend and I experienced they were open during lunch hours. I love this outlet so much. I'm already planning on returning at the end of April 2003. I regret not going back for a second trip. I won't make that mistake the next time I'm there. How are you planning to get to the outlet? I can tell you how to get there by train out of Florence and Rome. Let me know if you need help. Toni Skygodess44@hotmail.com Sun Oct 20 23:44:51 -0700 2002 1383036 0 Toni 1 1382916 its in montevarchi. about 45 min-1 hour south of firenze. don't go on the weekend, long waits to get in. in general, its a waste of time imho Sun Aug 18 03:17:52 -0700 2002 1382850 0 sk 1 1383031 arent you sweet to helps us in our devotion to shopping, thank you thank you thank you we are leaving in 2 days i really needed your info , one less thing to have a problem with . Sun Oct 06 00:27:41 -0700 2002 1382850 0 jas