jacksprats

Just wondered if there is such a thing as charity shops in Italy. kinda like the ones we have in the UK, Oxfam and that type of thing??

37100

Not in this part of Italy. Most things are recycled within the extended family. Or given to church organizations. We had some large furniture we didn't need which we offered to a group of immigrants we knew. They picked it all up.

jacksprats

We are moving to the pistoia area around florence, hopefully some around there?

TestaRossa

Florence has second-hand shops and one or two charity shops (I use one near me that is run by the socialist/communist party but they have some good, cheap stuff and there is a good furniture place in Scandicci - a friend bought a complete kids Flexa type bedroom set for less than €200 - check out Flexa prices before you think that's a lot...) The big thing at the moment is "vintage" shops - they are all over the centre in one form or another. None are run for charity but you can get some good deals and the stuff is in decent nick. My son got a pair of low top converse for €30, slightly faded like teens like them but with an almost new sole. Bearing in mind new they are €65+ I was happy to pay the €30 for them. There are also second hand clothes stalls on the weekly Cascine market on a Tuesday morning - very much a jumble sale but you can get stuff for a couple of euros. My friend also gave me a tip - go when the market is closing at 1 and many of the stalls dump stuff they can't take back for the refuse vans, so then it is free! Not my thing but she's had some decent stuff. Finally there is the monthly Thrift Market at St. Jame's Church. It's held on a Wednesday morning - can't remember if it is first or last....might be on their website...and you can get some real bargains there in every kind of thing! All the markets around the city tend to have little second-hand stalls on them too. The other big second hand market is monthly again in Santo Spirito and that is the last, again I think, Sunday of the month and goes from morning until around 7. Let me know what you are looking for and I might be able to direct you more specifically but if it's just general browsing that gives you a load to go on. Btw, the one near me is on via dei Leone..

jacksprats

Thanks TestaRossa, you are a font of knowledge. Looking mainly for cheap clothes, maybe some furniture so i think you have probably covered it all.

TestaRossa

No probs!

Don't forget we have Ikea here too plus there is Emmelunga and another whose name escapes me right now which are cheap for furniture.

Patty

Theres also a chain of shops called Il Mercatino. Its a place where they buy and sell secondhand stuff. We got some bargains there both clothes and furniture. You can check on the net if there any near you cos its a sort of franchising.
I got a pair of lovely suede boots practically new and a good make (Stonefly)
I paid the sum of 1 euro for them in the bargain basket