Shopping in Italy is like shopping no where else. Italian manufacturers and artisans present you with products made by that "fine Italian hand". One of a kind specialty shops and couture fashion emporiums to open air markets and street vendors - Italy has it all. Every town and city has its own unique products that are particular to the region whether it be food, wine, cheese, ceramics, linens, cashmere and the list goes on.
The Holy Trinity of shopping begins in Milano and continues into Firenze and Rome. These cities represent Italian shopping in all its glory! But don't overlook the towns and villages along the way. Some of my most memorable shopping experiences have been off the beaten track and in the "zona artigianale" regions of Italy where products are handcrafted according to age old traditions.
Cositutti's Ottimo . . . The Best Products to Bring Home From Italy
Here is my TOP TWELVE list of products that you cannot leave Italy without! . . . extra suitcase anyone
12. Neckties
11. Cashmere
10. Purses
9. Shoes
8. Scarves and pashminas - easy to pack
7. Pasta secca - dried pasta - simply the best
6. Ceramica from Umbria
5. Anything from Santa Maria Novella Farmaceutica in Firenze - the essence of the Renaissance
4. Pesto from Pecks in Milano - can't find it in the States
3. Linens
2. Wine
1. Olive Oil
I like to print out a clothing converter size chart when planning my shopping in Italy. US sizes are different and you don't want to be wondering what EU size you wear when you're vying for space at the Prada Outlet!
You can find various US to EU size conversion charts on line. One site that I frequently consult convertalot.com
Remember : Store hours in Italy are different than in the US and Chiuso means closed. Plan ahead so you won't be disappointed. Hours vary but generally shops are open from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and then re-open in the afternoon from 2 or 3:00 pm to 7 or 7:30pm. Nearly all shops are closed on Sundays and also on Monday morning.
Shopping in Milano
My first shopping experience in Italy began in Milano when my cousins dedicated an afternoon to shop at laRinascente located across from theDuomo on Via S. Radegonda 3. La Rinascente was my first introduction into shopping Italian style and still remains one of my favorites. Depending on what part of the country you come from, think of la Rinascente as a combination of Nordstroms, Saks, Niemans and Macy's. Does it sound like I'm exaggerating - well maybe some but not much. Also if you spend enough, you can get a tax free shopping refund right in the store. For the Italian department store shopping experience - I love la Rinascente.
Have an Americano or a Kyr Duomo at La Terrazza, a restaurant on the 7th floor for a view of the spires of Milano's Gothic Cathedral - The Duomo.
UPIM (pronounced ooh-peem) and COIN are two mid range Italian department stores I frequently shop at with my Italian cousins. Both carry trendy, stylish clothes for men, women and children as well as a housewares, linens and accessories at reasonable prices. Both frequently have sales with mark downs of 20-50%. I got a very nice cashmere sweater at the UPIM in Milano with money left over to splurge at PECK! (more about that later).
Both stores have branches all over Italy in the major cities of Milano, Roma and Firenze as well as Venice, Genoa, Parma and Lucca and others. If you happen by one, stop in to shop to see what it is like to shop like an Italian.
Napoleon said to his troops " Follow me to Italy where there are opulent towns with clothing stores on every block" and his troops cried out in one voice "Vive l'Empereur" from the book Mr. Bonaparte of Corsica by John Kendrick Banks
This Monty Pythonesce version of Napoleon's march to Italy is not so far fetched. The street named after him in Milano, Via Monte Napoleone, is considered by many to be the epitome of high fashion. Here and on the narrow side streets (della Spiga, Sant'Andrea) that branch off "Montenapo" (as the Italian's call it) are the greatest concentration of the most famous fashion designers in the world.
For window shopping or window walking you can reach Via Monte Napoleone from Piazza San Babila to see Versace, Armani, D&G, Prada, Missoni, Valentino, Etro, Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo.
If you're not in the market for high design, just walk into the shops. Just remember that you are walking into the cathedrals of high fashion, so reverence for the products is expected! The shops are beautifully designed and alone are worth a visit even if you credit card can't take the max.
Having a detailed map of the area like the one below will help you navigate the landscape of the Quadrilatero d'oro ( The Golden Triangle) of shopping
Italian fashionistas start out early.
In Italy, style and fashion aren't just for grownups! and that's great because shopping for children in Italy is sooooo much fun. Children's stores carry unique and innovative toys, clothing and accessories that you just can't find anywhere else. One of my favorites is Prenatal, described by some as a hip Italian baby clothing store. I've shopped in Prenatal - they have stores throughout Italy i.e. Milano, Venice, Bologna and I find them to be a combination of modern and traditional with an Italian sense of design. Clothes and accessories are for la futura mamma (yes they have some very nice maternity clothes) as well as children up to age 11.
Peck is a Milanese food shop that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste. Traveling to Milano without stopping at Peck would be the same, dare I say it, as going to Rome without stopping at the Vatican. It is a food emporium of great significance not only for the displays and array of food (3 floors of gastronomic delights) but for the care and wrapping of your purchase (the signature Peck wrapping paper tied with a ribbon emblazoned with the name Peck). Whether you are buying a tin of te' or a bottle of Brunello - everything is exquisitely wrapped.
My go to purchase at Peck is pesto. You can read about the products at the Peck web site (www.peck.it) but you won't be able to order the pesto; they don't ship certain items outside of Italy. Che peccato! What a pity! There is nothing like it to be found in the US. Period.
Peck located at 9 Via Spadari near the Milan Duomo (Cathedral) is considered to be one of the 25 World's Best Food Markets by Food and Wine Magazine. The sun like Peck logo is taken from the great rose window of the Duomo.
What's the best pasta to go with pesto? Trenette - a wider linguine type pasta is preferred in Liguria, a region on the Gulf of Genoa, where the small leaved aromatic Ligurian basilico (basil) is grown and the olive oil is considered by many to be among the best in Italy.
I like pesto with trofie; a thin, hand rolled twisted pasta. Actually a good pesto elevates any pasta to the realms of greatness and can be a secret ingredient in other dishes. My Italian family adds a dollop of pesto to their minestra (minestrone - vegetable soup) to "kick it up a notch".
What's the best pasta to go with pesto? Pasta a piacere - whatever pleases you because as long as the pesto is good the pasta will be great!
For pesto that comes, dare I say, close to Peck's click here to SHOP CosituttiMarketPlace
A half hour outside of Florence is a hidden treasure trove of glass and crystal. The city of Colle Val d'Elsa has been famous for handmade Italian crystal since 1331 . The handmade crystal ware is highly regarded by Italians and my Italian cousins made sure that on our way to Siena ( the town is 12 miles away) we stopped at Cristalleria Laica, localita San Marziale, a factory outlet for beautiful wine decanters and glasses at 50% off retail. There are several shops, factories and a glass making museum with a crystal forest, see www.cristallo.org for more information.
Fidenza Village Outlet Mall is located about 1 hour outside of Milano on the A1 Autostrada on the way to Firenze near Parma (one of my favorite towns). How convenient!
It ended up being the perfect place to stop on my recent trip traveling with kids. The Mall is located 100 meters off A1 at the Fidenza Salsomaggiore exit for an easy off and on. Also it's an outdoor mall where kids can run and play while you shop for Furla and Versace! There is a large playground with a full scale Viking ship that kids can play on. It's really at lot of fun for them. The shops at Fidenza Village are upscale and fashion forward with moderate prices. The Mall itself has a unique design due to the fact that it was an 18th c estate that was converted into a film studio where productions of Verdi's operas were staged!
There's also a restaurant called Balumeria that features Parma ham and a high wall stacked with cheese! It's quite a sight and fun to photograph.
To see some of the architectural features of Fidenza Village click and visit the picture album on Your Way
Shopping in Firenze
for the fragrances of Tuscany visit the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
For the hidden and beautiful fragrances of Tuscany you must visit one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Although it is only a 5 minute walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station, the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is miles away from the frantic pace of modern day Florence. Behind the unassuming entrance on Via della Scala 16, Florence becomes Firenze and you are transported to the time of Catherine di Medici whose renown perfumes are still being made according to formulas from the 1500's.
The Antica Farmacia, already well known in Dante's time, was established in the 13th century when the Dominican friars of Florence began to cultivate and prepare medicinal plants and herbs used for the treatment of the sick and pilgrims. Many of the products and lotions available for purchase today are based on the ancient recipes used by the friars. The elixirs, essences, distillations and powders have remained world famous over the centuries and inhaling their aromas is like breathing in the history of Italy.
Santa Maria Novella products and preparations are truly unique. Soaps are made by hand and molded with antique soap making equipment and aged for 60 days. Potpourri are made with flowers and herbs grown in the Florentine hills and collected by hand, then seasoned in old terra cotta jars for several months.
When you enter the sales salon at SMN Farmaceutica you are given la Nota dell'essenze, the list of essences as seen in the picture to the left. It lists pomate, spiriti, balsami, acque, liquori e altre preparazioni ,pomades, spirits, balms, waters, liqueurs and other preparations
and all manner of perfumes, elixirs, lotions and antique preparations a Medici could want! I too wanted these and on my recent trip in March I purchased SMN Sapone (soap) Fior d'Iris, scented wax tablets for my linen drawers, and a bottle of Alkermes, formulated by the friar-chemist Fra Cosimo to offset weary and lazy spirits. Alkermes liqueur is also used to flavor the Savoiardi or ladyfingers in a zuppa inglese or English trifle.
Umbrian Linens
Italian linens are recognized throughout the world for their quality and fine design based on the generational traditions of the tessitori, the ancient guild of Italian weavers. The most famous centers for looming and linens are Montefalco in Umbria and Florence, Siena and Anghiari in Tuscany. I have been to each of the towns and simply cannot get enough of these linens. The patterns and natural colors evoke the landscape of Tuscany and the Umbrian hills.
The linen towels of Montefalco are among my favorites. As with all Italian textiles, they are extremely durable and only get better with time becoming softer and more absorbent with each washing. My Umbrian friends from Perugia and Orvieto use these towels everyday in their kitchens and baths and they are frequently found in the hotels you will be staying at when traveling in Umbria.
For a distinctive gift, visit cosituttimarketplace for Gift Baskets and Gift Boxes that include linen towels from Montefalco.
