This is the most mythical address of the outlet Cockayne that is Tuscany: accounts of this lotus-land, where items from Prada and the rest of brands owned by the group are - allegedly - sold for peanuts, have accumulated such a growth of legends that you would be well advised not to get carried away: you may end up disappointed if it is not your day; besides, the „peanuts" are not that cheap either (if a Prada handbag will set you back on average EUR 900 or more at a boutique, a last season's design at Prada Space will still cost you some EUR 200-400, depending on your luck). Still, there is no denying: for a first time visitor, the outlet is definitely an exciting adventure. First of all, it is not that easy to find, and you are very likely to miss it altogether if you are driving past it looking for the familiar logo. There isn't one. The industrial-style building is reminiscent of a factory. As you take the Montevarchi turn from the A1 Motorway (in the Florence-Rome direction), you will find the outlet immediately after passing the town's single traffic light, just opposite a petrol station. Should you still be unlucky enough to get lost, don't worry -any resident of this small town will know how to find Prada Space and be happy to be of help, just like hundreds of times before. This is not where the peculiarities end: only a hundred people are admitted to the outlet at the same time, and you will have to obtain a queue number as soon as you enter the place. Depending on the number of people („shopping tourists" speaking a variety of languages tend to arrive in busloads), you may have to wait for a few minutes, half-hour, an hour. To make the process more pleasant, an adjacent cafe is available, which makes it possible to keep an eye on the monitor waiting for your number while tucking into your salad. As you enter the room, the first in the row are the handbag, shoe and accessory stands; the rest follows. You may notice quite a few typical last season's fads that have spent their time in shop windows and still have been left unbought. Your queue number will also serve as a sort of pin code: as soon as you pick something, the staff will place it next to the other things in your stack, thus leaving your hands empty - and your head even easier to lose. Take your time at the cash-desk sorting the stuff you really need from the things you don't; once the payment has been made, there is no return. The average discount at Prada Space ranges from 30 to 70 per cent; this is also one of the rare outlets boasting an excellent staff of shop assistants speaking a number of languages.
Prada Space is normally open seven days a week, 10 am - 7 pm; however, it wouldn't hurt to check the actual opening hours in advance. Phone: +39 055 91 901.