Random walk in the rain

What do you do when it rains in Florence? The same thing you do anywhere in the world...grab an umbrella, your wallet and set out to find some instant shopping gratification. So, leaving behind my bicycle (for obvious reason) and grabbing my camera, I set out to explore new territories . . . and found just that!

A treasure trove of Vintage shops so close to the Duomo it's hard to believe that few venture here. A virtual time machine of clothing, instruments, movies and more on Via dell'Orioulo, only a few metres from the new Biblioteca delle Oblate, another one of Florence's best kept secrets.

"Instead of having to shell out a few euros for a seat in a cafe’ in order to dodge the oppressive heat of Florence in August, I have a better solution- take refuge in the lovely (and air conditioned) Biblioteca delle Oblate." ContextTravel

The first shop, ostensibly a music store, crowds 50's televisions and radios, Les Paul guitars and mandolins with lps, 45s and cds in a window display that is a work of art in itself. The store was closed for lunch and, yet, a half hour past peering in before I noticed the second window . . . a time machine set to another epoch!












Then, as I turned to spy a bar to on the other side of the street, I found the shop's cinematic twin facing me, literally, with a sign that said it all, "Cinemania"!

Less, rich in design but no less interesting in content, in this storefront I found a cinefile's dream from the original "Dr. Who" to "Koyanisquasti" to the complete best hits of Audrey Hepburn, and much, much more.

All my favorites were there and many more that I had always wanted to own. The only non-Vintage aspect of the store were the dvds that these films came on . . . a godsend to those of us who have abandoned video years ago.

While the Vintage part of the tour ended there, the street offered many other treasures at every door: thousand of beads to make garlands, necklaces and bracelets; pashminas of all colors for €5 euros; a huge time clock I have yet to interpret...

I highly recommend a trip down Via dell'Orioulo to stop in at the Biblioteca, when you need a break, or peruse the shops, when you need some inspiration.