 |
| English: Piazza Navona,(Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
You can find all of the famous designer names in Rome such as Armani, Prada, Gucci, Valentino, Dolce e Gabbana, and Versace. And many of these prestigious fashions originate here and in Milan (a few hours north).
Most of the main designer top-end shops of this caliber are located in the area between Piazza di Spagna (Spanish steps) and Via del Corso. Some of these streets include Via Condotti, Via Borgognona, Via delle Vite and Via Frattina. Here you can find all your clothing including shoes, leather goods, accessories, suits, etc. The prices here tend to be very inflated, although, sometimes you can find an affordable sale (saldi).
In Rome, it's a good idea to explore some of the side streets, as you will tend to find prices that are more affordable then the main streets. You may even stumble across some stores that are not even known to the local residents
Mid-range clothing stores
The streets around Via del Corso, Via Nazionale, and Via dei Giubbonari are good streets where you will find many of the locals shop. You can find some good mid-range clothing options in this district.
2nd hand clothing in Rome
A curvy street that runs off of a small courtyard off of Piazza Navona, going towards the river, is Via del Governo Vecchio. This road has many second hand clothing stores and women's boutiques where you may be able to find a good bargain.
Food and Clothing
Right near the Vatican across from the Tiber river, an interesting place to shop is Via Cola di Rienzo where you can find some clothing, shoe stores, along with some food outlets, stalls and department stores.
Art galleries in Rome
Also near the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) is Via Margutta, a little north of the famous square is a street renowned for its contemporary art galleries.
Sales in Rome
The best time to find sales will depend on the season. The winter sales run end in mid February, and start in January. The summer sale season goes from mid July to end of September.
Business hours
Shopping hours in Rome generally run as follows:
Monday to Saturday - 9:30AM to 1PM then 3:30PM to 7:30PM (winter) 8:00PM (summer)
Some of the larger shops and department stores will operate continuously for the hours listed above. Many of the smaller shops are closed on Monday mornings.
Money, Credit Cars and Traveler's Checks
Cash is king in Italy, but credit cards and traveler's checks are also accepted. It is always best to ask before ringing up a purchase. Often times, they will add a surcharge of approximately 3% if you are using a credit card. They will most certainly require a passport if you do use a credit card as a form of identification.
So once you are done with all the sights of Rome on your Italian holiday vacation, take in a little shopping as Rome has some great merchandise that you can take back home.
Buona Spesa - happy shopping!
Larry Aiello is a travel blogger that loves to share his knowledge of Italian travel. He just recently published a book that will help visitors find the best airline deals, hotels, and more! The title of his book is First Time to Italy Vacation Planner.
