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Checking out the outlet stores Giovanna Dunmall They won't let you take a photo of the large warehouse in the Florentine hinterland, euphemistically called "I Pellettieri d'Italia" (the leather goods' makers of Italy). There are no visiting cards or brochures. All of this secrecy and security protects a universe of half-price, past collection Prada and miu miu goods: clothing, shoes and accessories.  Weekends and weekday mornings are the busiest times, and it is not recommended to go then. On average there are 1,000 visitors a day, hence the security at the door and the limit of about 100 in the shop at any one time. Once in, most customers spend on average an hour or two in the store. About 40 minutes away in Leccio there is an outlet centre, The Mall, which includes Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Loro Piana, Sergio Rossi and Yves Saint Laurent shops. While the "no photos" and "no publicity" rules help to keep the outlets a secret, you can find more of them on: www.tuttospacci.com [...] A further useful outlet guide on the web is www.bestoutlet.it. I Pellettieri d'Italia is in Levanella, about 30 kms from Florence, tel. 05591961. The Mall is in Leccio Reggello, Via Europa 8, tel. 0558657775. To get there BY ROAD: from Rome, take the A1 motorway towards Florence and take the exit marked "Incisa". Stay on your right towards Pontassieve until you reach Leccio. Soon after passing the centre of Leccio, the Mall will be on the left. BY TRAIN: take the train from Florence S. Maria Novella station to Incisa staion and continue by taxi (about 10 minutes) to Leccio. SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE: there is a daily service from Florence to and from The Mall. For information and reservations tel. 0558657775. Wanted in Rome, April 2001
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