You Can't Leave Florence, Italy Without Buying This Iconic Souvenir, Per Rick Steves

The world's most frequently visited places tend to have store after store selling keychains, snow globes, mugs, clothing, and everything in between all sporting the city or country's name. While these items can be wonderful and fairly budget-friendly souvenirs, they don't always reflect local culture. In Florence, there is one item sold at souvenir shops that is an exception: leather products. Small leather coin purses to full-size leather jackets are sold all over the city, so much so that you can smell the leather as you explore the tiny streets. Although leather is an age-old beloved product in Florence, it might still be wise to seek out these items away from the fluorescent knick-knack stores in touristy areas.

"Florence's long leatherworking tradition was born at Santa Croce Church, where Franciscan monks perfected the art of binding gorgeously illustrated manuscripts," travel expert Rick Steves explains on his website. You can actually still buy leather products right next to this church thanks to the popular and revered leather school, Scuola del Cuoio. Steves calls it "the city's most famous place to buy leather goods."

Scuola del Cuoio sells leather bags, bookmarks, belts, jackets, wallets, and much more. You might even see students at work when you visit. They could be working with deerskin, calfskin, or ostrich skin. President Dwight Eisenhower even owned a leather desk set from Scuola del Cuoio. The neighboring Santa Croce Church (Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze) is itself worth a visit, as the tomb of painter and sculptor Michelangelo is located inside the church.

Another place for authentic shopping opportunities is the Oltrarno district, the pretty area of Florence Rick Steves says to visit for untouristed Italian experiences. This part of the city is near the opulent Palazzo Pitti and is filled with local shops and restaurants along its small winding streets. Also close to the Oltrarno neighborhood is Ponte Vecchio, one of Italy's oldest bridges which is uniquely filled with shops right over the water of the Arno River. Head to either of these areas for plenty of leather souvenirs from the city that has such a long and storied history with such products.