Venice
Vintage mirrors and beautiful wooden shelving adorn this attractive, long-standing hat store. Owners Roberta and Misty stock traditional panamas and…
Must-see shopping in Italy
Centro Storico
Materie is a lovely showcase for unique handcrafted jewellery. Each year owner Viviana Violo travels to source new pieces from designers and artisans…
Perugia
This old-fashioned, handle-with-care shop showcases high-quality majolica ceramics. Their wares hail from Deruta, a nearby town that has been renowned for…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Buying leather gloves in Rome is a rite of passage for some, and the city's most famous glove-seller opposite the Spanish Steps is the place to go. Choose…
Cagliari
Wine buffs will enjoy exploring the racks at this specialist wine shop on Piazza Yenne. The onus is on Sardinian wines but you'll also come across Italian…
Venice
Get that ‘just got in from Monaco for my art opening’ look beloved of cashed-up bohemians. The high-drama Delphos tunic dresses make anyone look like a…
Venice
Utilising traditional Murano techniques and materials, including oxides and resins, Sabina Melinato conjures up contemporary glass and costume jewellery…
Venice
Daniela Lavera and Alessandra Gardin work with ceramics, porcelain, wood and glass to turn out contemporary homewares and stylish jewellery. Shapes are…
Rome
In 1933 Alfonso Bialetti revolutionised domestic coffee-making by creating his classic moka caffettiera. His design has by now become a household staple,…
Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo
Selling produce from its Tuscan farm, this shop is a great place to pick up presents to take home. Choose from different varieties of pesto, honey and…
Amalfi
Unabashedly tourist-geared, Il Ninfeo has a vast showroom displaying an excellent selection of ceramics, ranging from giant urns to fridge magnets. If…
Sorrento
There are numerous shops selling leather sandals in the centro storico, but head to the far end of Via Fuoro and you’ll find this tiny, old-fashioned…
Milan
This is probably Milan's leading commercial photographic gallery. It showcases the work of internationally famous photographers such as William Klein and…
Venice
This small family-run business turns out a candy-coloured range of gloves and bags in the softest leather. The gloves are hand-stitched in Naples and are…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Watch marmoraro (marble artist) Sandro Fiorentini chip away in this atelier filled with his decorative marble plaques engraved with various inscriptions:…
Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo
One of a growing number of shops serving Rome's record collectors, this San Lorenzo store has a devoted clientele. Its eclectic collection of vinyl LPs,…
Procida
This slick little bottle shop stocks the best of Campanian vino and a smattering of other Italian drops. The friendly owner will advise you (in Italian)…
Porto Venere
A delightful perfumery selling fragrances named after enchanting places around the region, including lemon citrus-scented Tramonti and the melding of…
Centro Storico
Technology might have largely done for pens but their romance remains and this old-fashioned shop has a wonderful selection. Choose from everyday…
Centro Storico
The flagship store of hip clothing label SBU, aka Strategic Business Unit, occupies a 19th-century workshop, complete with cast-iron columns and wooden…
Matera
This craft shop stands out among the tawdrier outlets selling tufa lamps and tiles. Its speciality is the cuccù, a brightly painted ceramic whistle in the…
Corniglia
A crafty store where you can find adorable children's T-shirts bearing the store's namesake marine mammal (le balene means 'the whales'). The friendly…
Trieste
Come and do your daily shop with the good Triestini at this multipurpose covered market (produce on the ground floor, clothing and homewares above). It…
Catania
Every morning except Sunday, Piazza Carlo Alberto (just off Via Etnea) is flooded by the chaos of La Fiera. Not dissimilar to a Middle Eastern kasbah, the…
Genoa
A traditional pasticceria (pastry shop) and chocolate shop that follows the seasons – chocolate, chestnuts and cream dominate in winter, fresh stone fruit…
Venice
This discreet menswear store on the Frezzaria stocks a natty line of jackets and sweaters tailored in the historic Rodrigo factory in Abruzzo. The look is…
Venice
Handbags become heirlooms in the hands of Venetian designers Massimiliano Battois and Silvano Arnoldo, whose handcrafted clutches come in bold turquoise…
Venice
Venice isn't known for its leatherwork, but there's always an exception to the rule – and Franco Balducci is it. Step through the door of his Cannaregio…
Centro Storico
Although no longer run by the label's founder, society shirtmaker Piero Albertelli, this renowned tailor's continues to dress Rome's well-to-do. Ready-to…
Centro Storico
Don’t be fooled by its workaday look – those in the know head to this small corner shop for the latest footwear fashions. Women's styles, ranging from…
Bologna
Bologna's most famous cheese shop carries a wide selection of aged parmigiano reggiano, along with hams and other deli items. It doubles as a wine bar and…
Trieste
The shop of a local artisan, Vud showcases the rich tradition of wood craft in the region, along with a nice contemporary simplicity. You might not be in…
Volterra
Conservators Silvia Gazzina and Rita Scarselli run this paper and parchment restoration laboratory that is used by major cultural organisations and…
Milan
Kristina Ti specialises in things that are swoon-inducingly pretty but never one-dimensionally girly. Her collection includes very wearable slouchy t…
Alghero
A local landmark near the entrance to the centro storico, this foodie shop is a gourmet's treat, selling everything from local liqueurs and island wines…
Genoa
A wonderful find in a country increasingly dominated by big budget labels, everything here is handmade in Genoa. Smocks, shirts, shorts, cardigans and…
Como
Wines, vintage whiskies and grappas, along with olive oils and balsamic vinegars, line the walls of this sociable wine shop and bar. Drop by in the…
Oltrarno
One of Florence's oldest and most reputable fashion houses, this lovely boutique across from Palazzo Pitti keeps its edge thanks to American-Florentine…
Centro Storico
A space for designers and artisans to showcase their wares, this shop is part of an ongoing project to sustain and promote Italy's artisanal traditions…
Modena
This supremely cool artisanal boutique and workshop does exquisite modern, vegetable-dyed leather items that range from cute and kitschy (leather…
