Discounts and Dilemmas: Florence’s Saldi for Visitors and Shops

Every mid-July, peak tourist season, the streets of Florence fill with banners and signs announcing Saldi, the country-wide sales period on the city’s commercial calendar. While many tourists stumble upon it by chance, adding an unexpected highlight to their Italian summer, and the discounts attract spontaneous shoppers, many local workers express more mixed feelings.

Near Florence’s iconic Duomo, the streets are buzzing with lines of tourists at museums but also at all kinds of stores.

“I was not planning to buy anything at all,” said Isabela Medina, 21, a tourist from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, “but obviously I wanted to buy more. ” She had just pickedup discounted Kiko skincare products. “I know that if I keep seeing discounts, I’ll buy.”

This spontaneous shift was common among tourists interviewed in the city center. “Shopping was for sure part of our plans,” said Mary K., 22, visiting from Orlando. “It’s technically supposed to be cheaper here compared to America,” she added, noting that the quality in Florence felt higher, too.

Andrea Yepez, a tourist from California, had a similar reaction. “At first, I wasn’t aware of the sales,” she said. “But I love them!” She estimated that in the U.S., she typically sees discounts of 5–20%, but in Florence, the discounts exceeded 30%.

“In the US, it’s way less,” she said. “Here, the discounts were way bigger than what you typically see in the US.”

For others, the discounts felt more like an irresistible surprise. Mariza Pinto, a tourist from Argentina, explained in Spanish: “It wasn’t my idea to go shopping, but it tempts me.” She came to Florence for its culture more than its shops, but was now browsing for a dress for her son’s wedding.

“A very good quality of clothing is more accessible in Florence,” she said, noting that Italian fabric prices were lower than back home. 

But behind the counters, the view is more nuanced. Aurora, a worker at a mostly men’s clothing store near the Duomo, said that sales sometimes mean smaller profits: “By not having the full price, you earn less than during the year.” She explained that shoes were selling the most because they attract both men and women. However, “during the full-price season, some sizes sell faster… so during Saldi you might have fewer sizes to satisfy all the clients.”

According to her, locals may delay purchases to wait for the discounts, and her store coordinates with brands to decide what can be discounted–though not all items are eligible. “Some pieces never go on sale,” she explained, “so we have a selection but like imposed from the brand.”

Meanwhile, Giada Chen, 22, who works at Eli Cosmetics, a Korean skincare shop, said she’s seen both ups and downs. “Some days there are more people, so the sales are better,” she said. “But sometimes it’s hot, so there aren’t many people. ” Sunscreen and face masks are among the most popular items. “If you put some discounts, people will be more curious to checkthe store and go inside,” she added. Although she doesn’t wait for discounts herself, Giada admits she’s more likely to buy things she “doesn’t need but just feels interested in” during Saldi.

Alisa Zheng, 45, who owns a linen and cashmere shop, said the sales haven’t changed much for her: “We’re selling the same quantity, but at a lower price,” she explained. Most of her clients, like others in the area, are tourists.

While many tourists hadn’t heard of the Saldi before arriving, the deals encouraged them to buy more than expected. For sellers, though, the sales period remains a double-edged sword–welcoming foot traffic and a seasonal boost, but not always the profits to match.

This article was produced as part of a journalism collaboration with Georgetown University’s study abroad program in Florence.

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