World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Rome  - Shopping
Shopping

Romans concur with Parisians that it is better to be chic than shocking. Consequently, Rome's shops are full of (usually expensive and almost identical) fine clothes, leathers, shoes and bags. In winter, real fur is still de rigeur.
The smart designer shops, where sales assistants are at their snootiest and price tags discreetly absent, are concentrated in the network of streets spanning out from the Spanish Steps. Of these, Via Condotti has most of the big names: Gucci, number 8, Max Mara, number 9, Valentino, number 13, Louis Vuitton, number 15, Salvatore Ferragamo, numbers 64 and 73, and Giorgio Armani, number 77. Bulgari, number 10 display glitteringly expensive watches, while the discreet Damiani, number 84, stocks alarmingly costly jewellery. Nearby Dolce e Gabbana, Piazza di Spagna 82/3, offers slightly more entertaining but equally expensive gear. Fendi has a cluster of boutiques along Via Borgogna, numbers 36-39, with a wide range of furs, shoes and bags, and their ready-to-wear collection. Other big names here are Gianni Versace, number 25, Moschino, number 32A, Calvin Klein, number 43 and Laura Biagiotti, number 44. Lingerie shops abound - among the most exclusive is YL Bodywear, Via del Nazareno 1c. Young Romans are attempting to break away from the rigid perfection of their predecessors - Onyx, Via del Corso 132, is currently 'in'.

Affordable buys are to be found in the high-street shops lining Via del Corso, Via del Tritone, Via Nazionale and Via Cola di Rienzo. Bargains are snapped up in the July sales.

The antique quarters lie along Via Margutta, Via del Babuino, Via Giulia and Via de' Coronari, with fairs organised in May and October. Bric-a-brac and retro clothes are on offer at the increasingly popular flea markets, the best being Via Sannio (Monday to Saturday, 0730-1300), and Porta Portese (Sunday 0730-1300).

Although there are supermarkets and shopping malls in Rome - including the 100-shop Centro Commerciale Cinecittą Due, Viale Palmiro Togliatti 2, Tuscolana - the Roman shopping style is to visit the local fruit and vegetable markets (Monday to Saturday, 0730-1300) and to dip in and out of delicatessens. Luxury goods to take home may include assorted vinegar, truffles and olive oil. Castroni, Via Cola di Rienzo 196, sells the culinary riches from Italy's regions and comforting imports from around the world - including baked beans. The well-established Trimani (founded 1821), Via Goito 20, stocks an excellent selection of Italian wines.

Smaller shops often close for lunch (1300-1630). Larger stores tend to stay open all day (0900-1930). Opening times can be confusing, with many food shops closed on Thursday afternoon (in winter) and other shops not opening until the afternoon on Monday. Summer brings later opening hours (until 2000) but also Saturday afternoon closing and complete closure for at least a fortnight in August. Sales tax varies between 10-14%, depending on the value of the goods.



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
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