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