The Mall vs Barberino outlet: which is better?
Florence: The Mall outlets tour
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Should I go to The Mall or Barberino Designer Outlet from Florence?
The Mall for ultra-premium brands (Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Valentino). Barberino for accessible luxury and Italian mid-range (Armani, Furla, Pinko, Calvin Klein). Both offer genuine 30-50% discounts. The Mall is better if you are specifically a Gucci or luxury-tier shopper; Barberino has more variety and suits more budgets.
Two different outlets for two different shoppers
Florence’s proximity to Italy’s fashion industry makes it one of the best cities in Europe for outlet shopping. Within an hour of the city centre, two major outlet destinations serve very different market segments.
The Mall Leccio is ultra-premium — compact, architecturally restrained, dedicated to the highest-tier Italian and French fashion houses. Visiting The Mall is a specific experience for shoppers who know and wear Gucci, Bottega Veneta or Saint Laurent.
Barberino Designer Outlet (McArthurGlen) is a full-scale outlet village — larger, more varied, more accessible in terms of price point, and better suited to shoppers who want Italian fashion broadly rather than specific ultra-luxury houses.
This comparison covers everything you need to decide which suits your trip.
The Mall Leccio: the premium choice
Address: Via Europa 8, Leccio Reggello, 50066 Distance from Florence: 30 km southeast, 30-35 minutes by car or 45 minutes by bus Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-7 pm, Sunday 10 am-8 pm (seasonal variations; check the-mall.com)
Brand directory at The Mall
| Brand | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gucci | Fashion, bags, shoes, accessories | Largest store; dedicated building; sale section inside |
| Bottega Veneta | Leather goods, fashion | Strong selection; intrecciato weave signature pieces |
| Saint Laurent | Fashion, bags, shoes | Full seasonal range |
| Valentino | Fashion, shoes | Good for Rockstud shoes and evening wear |
| Balenciaga | Fashion, shoes, accessories | Hit-or-miss depending on season |
| Alexander McQueen | Fashion, bags | Smaller selection |
| Loro Piana | Cashmere, luxury clothing | Premium price even at outlet; worth it for quality |
| Brunello Cucinelli | Cashmere, lifestyle clothing | Limited selection but genuine discounts |
| Moncler | Outerwear | Best autumn-winter selection |
| Golden Goose | Trainers, casual | Often 30-40% off on last-season styles |
| Ermenegildo Zegna | Men’s tailoring | Good for suits and trousers |
| Tod’s | Bags, shoes | Classic Italian quality |
What you will not find at The Mall: Prada. The Prada outlet is a separate facility in Montevarchi (Spazio Prada, 50 km from Florence). The Mall bus sometimes includes Prada as an add-on — check the specific itinerary when booking.
Shopping strategy at The Mall
The Gucci building is the primary destination. It is the largest store at the outlet and often has the best inventory. Inside Gucci, ask for the sale section — it is not always immediately visible but contains items at 50-70% below retail. Bags, belts, shoes, scarves and accessories.
Arrive early. On weekend afternoons, the Gucci store in particular becomes crowded enough to make browsing unpleasant. Tuesday-Thursday mornings are optimal.
Have a list. The Mall’s stores are individual boutiques rather than a warehouse — each has a curated selection. Knowing which brand you want to visit before arriving saves time.
Stock rotation: The Mall receives new stock regularly throughout the season. There is no fixed “restock day” — inventory changes constantly. If a specific item is not in stock, it may appear the following week, but there is no way to predict this.
The Private Shopping experience
For shoppers who want a personalised approach — pre-selected items based on preferences, styling advice, VAT refund assistance — The Mall offers a private shopping service. Book through the-mall.com in advance. The service pairs you with an English-speaking personal shopper for 2-3 hours. Best for shoppers with a high budget and specific goals.
A private driver service is available from Florence, handling transport in both directions and stopping at multiple outlets on request.
Barberino Designer Outlet: the accessible choice
Address: Via Meucci, 50031 Barberino di Mugello Distance from Florence: 35 km north, 35-40 minutes by car, 40-50 minutes by bus Hours: Daily 10 am-8 pm (later on weekends; check mcarthurglen.com)
Barberino is a McArthurGlen property — the same format as their UK and European outlets (Bicester Village, Roermond, Serravalle). It is a purpose-built village of approximately 180 stores in faux-Tuscan style architecture, with restaurants, cafés and a food court.
Brand directory at Barberino (selected)
| Brand | Category | Typical discount |
|---|---|---|
| Armani / Giorgio Armani | Fashion, suits, sportswear | 30-50% |
| Emporio Armani | Fashion | 30-50% |
| Hugo Boss | Men’s and women’s fashion | 30-40% |
| Calvin Klein | Fashion, accessories | 30-40% |
| Tommy Hilfiger | Casual fashion | 30-40% |
| Coach | Bags, accessories | 30-45% |
| Furla | Bags, accessories | 35-50% |
| Pinko | Italian fashion | 35-50% |
| Liu Jo | Italian fashion | 35-50% |
| Twin Set | Italian casual | 30-45% |
| Patrizia Pepe | Italian fashion | 30-45% |
| Bvlgari | Jewellery, accessories | 20-35% |
| Versace | Fashion | Limited selection; 30-40% |
| Dolce & Gabbana | Fashion | Limited selection; 25-40% |
| Bally | Shoes, leather goods | 30-45% |
| Samsonite | Luggage | 25-35% |
| Nike / Adidas | Sport | 30-40% |
Why Barberino suits more shoppers
Barberino’s advantage is range. The 180+ stores cover far more price points than The Mall — you can buy a EUR 40 Calvin Klein top, a EUR 180 Furla bag, a EUR 400 Armani suit, and a EUR 25 pair of socks from Tommy Hilfiger, all in the same afternoon.
For Italian fashion specifically, Barberino is strong on brands that are well-known in Italy but less prominent internationally — Pinko, Liu Jo and Twin Set offer excellent value at outlet prices and represent the contemporary Italian fashion that Florentine women actually wear.
The food options are also better than The Mall — a food court with sit-down restaurants, pizza, pasta and decent coffee.
Best time to visit Barberino
Like The Mall, Barberino is quietest on weekday mornings. The outlet draws Italian day-trippers heavily on Saturdays; summer Saturdays can feel crowded. Avoid Saturday afternoons in July and August if crowds are important to you.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | The Mall Leccio | Barberino |
|---|---|---|
| Number of stores | ~25 | ~180 |
| Price range | EUR 150-2000+ | EUR 30-600 |
| Flagship brand | Gucci | Armani / Furla |
| Best for | Ultra-luxury shoppers | Broad fashion shoppers |
| Architecture | Understated, premium | Village style, casual |
| Food options | Limited café | Full food court |
| Parking | Small, sometimes full | Large, free |
| Bus from Florence | Direct The Mall bus | SITA bus |
| Journey time | 45 min (bus), 30 min (car) | 40-50 min (bus), 35 min (car) |
| VAT refund | Available at both | Available at both |
| Crowds | Moderate (busier weekends) | Busier (more visitors) |
| Quietest time | Weekday mornings | Weekday mornings |
Logistics: getting to both outlets
The Mall Leccio bus
The Mall runs its own bus service daily from Florence. Departure point: Via Santa Caterina da Siena 17, near Santa Maria Novella station. First departure approximately 9 am; additional departures at peak times.
Ticket purchase: at the Busitalia office near the departure point, or via the-mall.com. Round trip EUR 8-12. Bus capacity is limited — in summer, book the return bus when you arrive (the driver at The Mall takes reservations for the return service).
The bus sometimes includes an optional stop at the Prada outlet in Montevarchi (extra time, extra cost — check the itinerary when booking).
Barberino bus
SITA bus from Florence Autostazione (Piazza Adua, next to Santa Maria Novella station). Buses run regularly on weekdays; verify weekend schedules at the SITA website or the Autostazione information desk. Journey approximately 40-50 minutes; ticket EUR 4-5.
From Barberino station (if arriving by train): the outlet is a 20-minute walk or a short taxi ride.
By car
Both outlets are within 35 km of Florence and accessible via the A1 motorway. Free parking at both. By car, you can realistically combine both outlets in a full day: depart Florence early → The Mall (3-4 hours) → Barberino (2-3 hours) → return. Total driving time approximately 2 hours.
Guided shopping tours
If logistics management is not your preference, guided shopping tours to The Mall are available from Florence with hotel pickup. These typically:
- Provide comfortable return transport
- Include an English-speaking guide who knows the layout and stock
- Assist with VAT refund paperwork
- Sometimes arrange priority access to the Gucci store
Cost varies but typically EUR 40-100 per person for the tour itself, plus your purchases. Worth it if you are spending EUR 500+ and want the administrative simplicity.
A private driver service to The Mall and the Prada outlet in Montevarchi is available for groups or couples preferring flexibility over group timing.
Tax-free shopping at outlets
Both The Mall and Barberino participate in Global Blue tax-free shopping for non-EU visitors.
How it works:
- Present your passport at the checkout and ask for a Tax Free form
- Minimum purchase EUR 154.94 per transaction (at The Mall, this is easily achieved in most stores)
- At Florence airport, go to the customs desk before check-in (or after for electronic processing)
- Present passport, receipts, goods in original packaging, and Tax Free forms
- Get a cash or card refund (minus the Global Blue commission, typically 10-15% of the refund value)
For The Mall: The VAT refund desk is inside the complex; you can get an immediate refund (minus commission) without waiting for the airport process. This is convenient but the commission rate may be slightly higher than airport refund desks.
Tip: If buying a large Gucci item (EUR 1000+), the VAT refund (22%) minus commission (10-15%) still returns EUR 100-150 in your pocket. Worth doing.
Frequently asked questions about Florence outlets
Is The Mall genuinely an outlet or just a discount store?
The Mall is a genuine first-party outlet — stores are operated by the brands themselves (Gucci’s store at The Mall is a Gucci-operated facility). This means goods are authentic, current and previous season merchandise at outlet prices. It is not a clearance house or grey-market operation.
Are the products at The Mall authentic?
Yes. First-party brand stores selling their own merchandise — exactly as you would expect in the brand’s flagship. Counterfeit goods are not sold at The Mall. This is different from some street markets in other Italian cities.
When are the best discounts at The Mall?
End-of-season sales (January for winter stock, July for summer stock) bring the deepest discounts, sometimes 60-70% on specific items. However, these sales also bring the highest visitor numbers. The balance between discount depth and crowd level is individual.
Can I eat well at both outlets?
The Mall has a limited café and restaurant — pleasant for coffee and a light lunch but not a culinary experience. Barberino has a full food court with multiple options including sit-down restaurants. If a proper lunch is important, Barberino wins easily.
Do I need to reserve a time slot at The Mall?
No — both outlets are open to all visitors without reservation (except the private shopping service, which requires advance booking). Queuing is only at specific peak times for the most popular stores.
What to buy at each outlet: specific category guide
Leather goods
The Mall: Gucci and Bottega Veneta are the leaders for leather goods. Gucci bags, wallets and belts at The Mall represent the best leather goods value among luxury brands. Bottega Veneta’s signature intrecciato (woven leather) bags are available at 30-40% below boutique prices.
Barberino: Coach and Furla offer Italian-quality leather bags at genuinely accessible outlet prices. A Furla bag at Barberino costs EUR 80-180; the same bag at full retail is EUR 150-300. Furla uses good-quality Italian leather and Italian manufacturing — a genuine alternative to the ultra-luxury tier.
Shoes
The Mall: Valentino Rockstud shoes, Saint Laurent heels and boots, Balenciaga trainers. If you wear a standard shoe size and are flexible on colour, The Mall regularly has excellent shoe stock.
Barberino: Bally, Tod’s (at The Mall also, but Barberino has broader selection of classic Italian shoes), and the Italian accessible brands. Bally shoes at outlet prices represent solid value for well-constructed classic footwear.
Cashmere and knitwear
The Mall: Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli are the destinations for cashmere in the EUR 200-800 range (still premium, but 30-50% below boutique). These are genuinely extraordinary knitwear makers — the softness differential between Loro Piana cashmere and supermarket cashmere is perceptible immediately.
Barberino: Armani knitwear at outlet prices (EUR 80-200 range) represents better value for shoppers who do not need ultra-premium.
Outerwear
The Mall: Moncler down jackets are the primary draw for outerwear buyers at The Mall. Outlet prices of EUR 300-600 for a Moncler jacket (versus EUR 600-1200 full retail) are significant. Best selection September-November (autumn-winter stock arriving).
Barberino: Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger offer classic outerwear at 30-40% off. Not a luxury purchase but solid quality at fair prices.
Day planning: how to make the most of a full day at both outlets
If you have a car and want to visit both outlets in a day (starting early from Florence):
8:30 am: Depart Florence by car 9:30 am: Arrive The Mall Leccio (opens 10 am — arrive slightly early for parking) 10 am-1 pm: The Mall (3 hours: Gucci building plus 2-3 other stores) 1:30 pm: Leave The Mall, drive to Barberino (~1 hour 15 minutes via A1 and A11) 2:45 pm: Arrive Barberino Designer Outlet 3-6 pm: Barberino (3 hours: 5-6 stores from your target list) 6:30 pm: Depart Barberino for Florence 7:15 pm: Arrive Florence
This schedule is ambitious but workable for shoppers who are clear on their targets. Aimless browsing at both outlets in a single day is exhausting — identify 3-4 specific brands you want to visit before leaving Florence.
Eating: Pack snacks for The Mall or eat at their restaurant at 1 pm before driving to Barberino. Barberino’s food court serves dinner from 6 pm if you extend your visit.
Frequently asked questions about The Mall vs Barberino outlet
Which outlet has better discounts?
Both offer 30-50% off retail, occasionally more on older season stock. The Mall's Gucci store has significant markdowns in its sale section — sometimes 60-70% off specific items. Barberino's accessible luxury brands (Armani, Furla) offer reliable 40-50% off throughout the year.How do I get to The Mall from Florence?
The Mall runs its own dedicated bus service from Via Santa Caterina da Siena (near Santa Maria Novella station), departing 9 am daily (additional departures in summer). Round trip approximately EUR 8-12. Journey 40-45 minutes. Alternatively, rent a car (30 km via the A1 motorway) or take a taxi (EUR 50-70 one way).How do I get to Barberino from Florence?
SITA bus from the Autostazione near Santa Maria Novella station, approximately 40-50 minutes, EUR 4-5 each way. Alternatively, take the train to Barberino di Mugello and walk or taxi. By car: 35 km via the A1 motorway, approximately 35 minutes. Free parking at the outlet.Can I visit both outlets in one day?
Possible but ambitious. The Mall and Barberino are in different directions from Florence (south and north respectively), making a round trip via both outlets without a car approximately 4-5 hours of travel for 2-3 hours of shopping. By car, driving The Mall → Barberino directly takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Most visitors choose one outlet per visit.
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