Whether you just want to buy a couple of souvenirs or you're looking for jewelry, specialty foods, art, or fashion items, Italy is a shopper's paradise. Our shopping guides (click on the links for each city) will help you avoid the cheap mass-produced souvenirs that can be found near most tourist attractions and steer you to artisan shops and specialty boutiques where you'll find quality merchandise.
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Where to Shop in Assisi
Rebecca Winke Assisi is one of the most visited hill towns in central Italy's Umbria region. There are many shops selling souvenirs and cheap knickknacks, especially near Saint Francis Basilica, but if you're looking for a unique or special gift, try these artisan boutiques that include art, fashion, kid's clothes, items for your home, and food and wine.
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Florence Artisan and Fashion Shops
Peter Unger / Getty Images Florence is a good place to shop for artisan crafts, luxurious fashions, shoes, leather, jewelry, perfume, and stationary. If you're looking for luxury shopping or window shopping, head to the streets of Via Tornabuoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, and Via dei Calzaiuoli in the historic center. Around the Central Market are many stalls selling inexpensive souvenirs and clothing. Cross over the Arno for smaller specialty stores.
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Lucca Artisan Shopping
Atlantide Phototravel / Getty Images The walled city of Lucca in Tuscany offers good shops for foodies, artisan workshops, jewelry, and fashion. Via Fillungo, the main shopping street, runs through Lucca's historic center and you'll find some good shops both on that street and other streets nearby.
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Naples Shopping
Filippo Maria Bianchi / Getty Images Naples is known for its nativity workshops that produce figurines and other items for Italian nativity scenes, or presepe. Most of the workshops are on or near Via San Gregorio Armeno in the historic center. Galleria Umberto, across from the San Carlo Opera House, is a historic shopping center and worth a visit even if you don't want to shop. Via Toledo is a more modern street with stores selling clothing and other items.
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Perugia Shopping
Russell Mountford / Getty Images Perugia, the largest city in central Italy's Umbria region, has shops ranging from specialty boutiques and artisan workshops to high-end fashions. Via dei Priori, and Corso Cavour are two good streets for shopping. Perugia is also known for Baci chocolates and you'll find them for sale in stores and cafes.
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Where to Shop in Rome
Kathrin Ziegler / Getty Images Rome offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities with everything from designer fashions to chain and outlet stores, flea markets, and souvenirs. For fashionable shopping, head to the area near the Spanish Steps and for chain stores, try Via del Corso.
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6 Favorite Shops in Sorrento
Glow Images, Inc / Getty Images Sorrento is a charming town on the Amalfi Peninsula of Southern Italy and a good place to shop. In this article, author Susan Van Allen shares 6 of her favorite shops in Sorrento.
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Venice Shopping
Frank Chmura / Getty Images Venice is one of Italy's most popular cities for tourists and there are many souvenir stands selling cheap mass-produced items. But Venice also has historic shops and boutiques selling handmade masks and glass, two products for which Venice is famous.
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Guide to Food Shopping in Italy
Christof Koepsel / Getty Images Shopping for food can be an interesting experience, whether you just want a few picnic items or you're staying in a self-catering vacation rental. Here's a guide to how to shop for food.
January Sales
The first week of January is the time to shop in Italy if you're looking for bargains, many stores have huge sales.