| Shopping In Italy | | | | Laterano. Here you can browse huge |
| Italy's hottest shopping draw is of | | | | volumes of cheap clothes. |
| course fashion. Milan is home of the | | | | Shopping In Venice |
| country's fashion industry, but Rome is | | | | Venice has long been a place of trade |
| the main Italian bazaar where the | | | | and remains a busy retail center. Though |
| threads are put on the market. Here you | | | | the big name fashion houses are |
| can find the ultra chic garments of | | | | well-represented, the joy of shopping in |
| celebrated designers numbering in the | | | | Venice lies in hunting down those local |
| hundreds. Quality is very high and the | | | | novelty items that evoke the spirit of |
| range of materials includes leather, | | | | La Serenissima. |
| cotton, silk and wool. | | | | However if it's brand name fashions |
| Other than garments, Italy is | | | | you're after, Venice won't disappoint. |
| pre-eminent in the production of quality | | | | The island's busiest shopping strip is |
| glassware, furniture, jewellery and | | | | the Merceri. It runs all the ways from |
| porcelain goods. | | | | the Piazza to the Rialto Bridge and |
| Shopping In Rome | | | | almost all the celebrated Italian labels |
| While Rome is overrun with international | | | | have boutiques here. |
| fashion boutiques, shopping in the | | | | For other items, Calle della Mandola is |
| Eternal City can still offer its own | | | | the place to browse books and glass |
| very Roman flavour. For the ultimate in | | | | beads. And Campo Santo Stefano is the |
| windows shopping, the area around via | | | | square for antique hunting. However, you |
| Condotti at the foot of the Spanish | | | | can't leave Venice without getting a |
| Steps is the place to go. You can gaze | | | | souvenir carnival mask. |
| at the creations of Armani, Prada, | | | | Carnival is the great event held every |
| Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci and | | | | February but the masks are manufactured |
| the other grand names in the elegant | | | | as souvenirs all year-round in Venice's |
| windows under the baroque or | | | | small workshops. You can get everything |
| neoclassical facades. But remember that | | | | from full size porcelain masks with a |
| rents in Rome are sky high and so are | | | | hefty price tag to inexpensive ornaments |
| the prices. | | | | such as silver earrings in the shape of |
| For antiques, head to Via dei Coronari. | | | | carnival masks. |
| It's a narrow pedestrianised street near | | | | The other great specialty of Venice is |
| Piazza Navona. The 500-meter long | | | | glassware from the island of Murano. |
| thoroughfare is lined with antique | | | | These include such items as vases, |
| stores and galleries. | | | | clocks and wine bottle caps. And you can |
| For the true Roman experience, you have | | | | also get decorative items such as rings, |
| to visit one of the city's many markets. | | | | bracelets or pendants made out of the |
| The Sunday morning flea market at Porta | | | | delightful colored glass. These can be |
| Portese is an overcrowded event where | | | | very inexpensive and make great |
| you can buy almost anything. It's held | | | | souvenirs of Venice. Other delights |
| on via Portuense south of the Porta | | | | special to Venice include porcelain |
| Portese gate. Beware of pickpockets. | | | | dolls and Burano lace work. |
| From Monday to Saturday, the morning | | | | There is wide selection of hotels in |
| market is in via Sannio, just outside | | | | Italy . Check out the internet for |
| the Roman walls by San Giovanni in | | | | hotels in Rome or Venice hotels. |