Rome Shopping

  1. Al Sogno

    Even from outside you know that Al Sogno is more than your average toy shop, with elaborate window displays featuring elegant Edwardian dolls. Inside is an expensive wonderland, the mezzanine floor straining under the weight of dolls and stuffed animals. The museum-like don't-touch atmosphere is best suited to well-behaved kids.

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  2. Bartolucci

    You can't miss this wonderful toy shop, where everything's crafted in pine by the Bartolucci family. It's guarded by a cycling Pinocchio and a full-sized wooden motorbike, and within are thousands of ticking clocks, beautiful cars, planes and more Pinocchios than you're ever likely to see in one place. You can have wooden signs (hang your hat on Pinocchio's nose) personalised with your name.

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  3. Bertè

    On Piazza Navona, this famous toy shop specialises in beautifully sculpted wooden dolls and puppets, but has a great mishmash of other stuff, from tractors to pushchairs and doll houses to tea sets. Good for a pre-/post-sightseeing bribe/reward.

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  4. Città Del Sole

    A parent's dream - Città del Sole is a treasure-trove of imaginative and well-made toys that are educational and creative. With few electronic gadgets in sight, this is the place to remember the toys you played with as a kid and stock up for Christmas. There's another branch at Via Buonarroti 6 (06 489 30 292), near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

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