I bet when you think Venice the last thing on your mind is an outlet mall.  And why should it be?  I mean you’re not going to Venice to go shopping at an outlet mall right?  Well if you’re a fashion lover and love discounts the Noventa Di Piave Designer Outlet should be on your Venice to do list!

Most fashionistas and just about anyone else knows that Italy is one of the world’s fashion hubs.  After all it’s home to Versace, Dolce & Gabana, Fendi, La Perla, Cosabella, Cavalli, Prada,  and my favorite Gucci, and more.  Designer boutiques line the sidewalks along Rome’s Via Condotti and Milan’s Via Montenapoleone where shoppers go to gawk at the latest fashions or splurge on luxury items.  So it only follows that a country  home to a host of designers and brands have it’s very own designer outlet.

So don’t be surprised to learn that Italy has quite a few designer outlets and factory stores that are scattered in the outskirts of its major cities.

I’ve been shopping at The Mall, the Dolce & Gabana Factory Store, and the Space Outlet aka the Prada Outlet located about an hour away from Florence for years.  In fact The Mall was my favorite designer outlet until my first visit to Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet right outside Venice.

You might be wondering why on earth would anyone want to go to a designer outlet in Europe when we have our own outlets here in the US.  I have to admit many of the shops in Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet are the same ones we have at our local outlets.

Yes you’ll find Michael Kors, Coach, and Ralph Lauren at the Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet, The Mall, and other Mcarthur Glen outlets in Italy; but you’ll find so much more!  I know many of our US outlets also have Armani, Gucci, Prada, and other Italian Brands but trust me they are not the same.   You’ll find that brands like Gucci have products available only in particular regions.  So there are items sold only in the European markets and you won’t be able to find them in the US or any other area.

Also the European outlets have shops we don’t have in the US.  Shops like Desigual and Loro Piana just to name a couple of my favorites.  Noventa di Piave Outlet is home to 150 stores, some familiar others not; but all offer some very good prices!

Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet is one of the prettiest outlets I’ve ever been too.  It’s decor is designed like a colorful Italian village with colorful facades and even a gondola on display.

You’ll even find several fountains tucked in courtyards in front of the shops.

They make great photo backgrounds!

There are a couple of areas that kids will love too.

There’s the covered play park with slides, tunnels, and swings.

And there’s the splash fountain in the middle of t he restaurant area.

My grandsons loved the kid size benches in front of this fountain.

And don’t worry you won’t starve.  There are 9 restaurants in the outlet along with several food trucks or kiosks scattered around.  Venchi, one  of my favorite gelato and chocolate shops has a location here.  So after lunch you can drop in for a double or triple dip gelato!

Oh and before I forget tourists get a tax refund when you purchase a total of  at least €155 from the outlet stores.  Just be sure you get the refund form from the cashier when you pay.  You can take the forms along with your confirmed flight itinerary to the refund office in the outlet or present it to the airport tax refund office at the airport before you leave.  (To get the refund the items you purchased must be in new and unused condition in the sealed bag they were placed in at the time of purchase.  The airport tax refund office may ask to see the items you are claiming. So do this before you check in bags.)

Anyway if you’re a shopper and love big discounts, a fashionista, or just someone who has an extra day in the area and nothing to do, drop by the Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet.  Getting there is easy if you’re staying in the Venice area.  There are shuttles from Venice,  Mestre and Marghera that run directly to the outlet and back.  Shuttles run about every 30-50 minutes and cost €15 per adult roundtrip.  Kids 4 and under are free.  Or you can rent a car and explore the area, there’s lots of places to see!  Try Verona, Padova, Vicenza, Lake Garda, and even Bolzano!

Trust me you won’t regret it!

This may have been my first visit to Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet, but I know it won’t be my last!

Ready to book your Venetian holiday?  Call us at Savvy Nana Travel!  We’ll help you plan the