Milan may be the fashion capital of Italy but Florence is the fashion capital of Tuscany and filled to the brim with stylish people, eateries and boutiques. However, it is also home to some excellent fashion museums. So, if you are a serious lover of fashion and fashion history, find a luxury villa in Florence and discover the place where so many of your favourite brands were born and still strive to this day...
1. The Gucci Museum
Everything is all about Gucci at the moment and the iconic brand was not only born in Florence but also has its recently reopened museum and flagship store, the Gucci Garden. Located inside the Palazzo della Mercanzia in Florence's Piazza Signoria, the museum was opened in 2011 and was reopened with its new design on the 10th of January 2018, under the vision of Alessandro Michele. Spread across several floors, it encompasses a boutique that stocks exclusive pieces, an exhibition curated by Maria Luisa Frisa, a rather special gift shop and the Gucci Osteria, a wonderful restaurant that is manned by the three-Michelin-starred chef, Massimo Bottura. Informative, beautiful and a whole experience, it is a must-see for Gucci fans.
2. The Ferragamo Museum
Located in Palazzo Spini Feroni, on Via Tornabuoni, in the basement below the Ferragamo headquarters, the Ferragamo Museum is another wonderful historic fashion house's museum. Opened in 1995, it highlights the life and work of Italian footwear designer Salvatore Ferragamo. The display presents some of the brand's iconic shoes from the entirety of its existence, sketches, images, books and magazines. With a collection of 10,000 pieces designed by Ferragamo between 1920 and 1960, it costs just five euro to enter and the museum is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm.
Of course, there are some other excellent fashion museums in Florence so be sure to read on to the next post for some more great examples to hit up as you explore the culture of clothing in the city...
