About the San Lorenzo Market
The San Lorenzo Market is the largest covered marketplace located in Florence. It is split into two separate markets, the indoor market which has food-related items for sale, and the outdoor market where you will find all kinds of souvenirs, clothing and leather goods. It is located on the surrounding streets of the central market and is a popular sightseeing destination for tourists.
Buying Authentic Italian Handmade Leather At The Market
Florence is well known for its history of leather making and the craft of leather is Florence’s oldest profession. The outdoor section of the San Lorenzo market is where you will find handmade leather goods, such as belts, wallets, handbags and jackets. There are many bargains to be found in this part of the market, so be sure to browse around and inspect all the Italian handmade leather goods.
However, you need to be wary of vendors who claim that they are selling authentic Italian leather, when they actually are not.
Tips for Buying Authentic Italian Handmade Leather Bags
Although some items in the market may be “made in Italy” they may not be using real Italian leather. Real Italian leather is costly to produce, and as a result expensive to buy. So if the price of an Italian handmade leather bag is too good to be true, it probably is.
Check the suede side for texture, if it exists it is probably real. If it is smooth it is probably fake.
Also, even the highest quality leather will sometimes contain blemishes, so inspect the leather for this. Real leather will also crease if you apply pressure to it.
Alternatively, you could buy Italian handmade leather bags from a reputable store, such as Florence Leather Market.
