Venice
Handbags become heirlooms in the hands of Venetian designers Massimiliano Battois and Silvano Arnoldo, whose handcrafted clutches come in bold turquoise…
Must-see shopping in Italy
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
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…
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…
San Lorenzo & San Marco
A mooch around this upmarket boutique is worth it, if only to dip into the utterly cinematic courtyard of 16th- to 18th-century Palazzo Pucci in which it…
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…
Santa Maria Novella
The glitz, glam and romance of bygone eras are evoked at this wonderful antiquarian boutique specialising in vintage fashion. Garments and accessories…
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…
Modena
This supremely cool artisanal boutique and workshop does exquisite modern, vegetable-dyed leather items that range from cute and kitschy (leather…
Trieste
Possibly the most beautiful of the Eataly family of food and wine superstores, set in an old dockside warehouse, with two floors of windows overlooking…
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…
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…
Trieste
Part bookshop, part Slovenian cultural hub, this is a fascinating place to explore the cultural fluidity of Trieste; it has a particularly engaging…
Eastern Sardinia
True to Nuoro’s pastoral heritage (not to mention those dastardly bandits), Franco Piredda crafts exquisite Sardinian knives, including the famous Pattada…
Alghero
This is one of the oldest shops in the centro storico. It has been selling its own handmade leather belts and sandals since 1945 and still today the smell…
Oltrarno
This quaint old shopfront has watched Palazzo Pitti turn pink with the evening sun since 1856. One of Florence's oldest artisan families, the Gianninis –…
Chianti
This atmospheric macelleria (butcher shop) in the main square was established by the local Falorni family way back in 1806. Known for its finocchiona…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Artisanal lamps and lampshades have been produced at this colourful family-run workshop since 1938. Their one-off creations, made from materials such as…
Murano, Burano & the Northern Islands
Davide Penso has taken the art of bead making to dizzying heights with exhibits at the Museo Correr, Boston's Fine Arts Museum and the San Marco Museum of…
Lake Garda
This 40-shop mall on busy Viale Rovereto boasts a free toilet, free wi-fi, a supermarket, free parking, a bookshop selling local maps, an outdoor…
Centro Storico
Fashionable, versatile and elegant, Susanna Liso’s seasonal designs adorn this relaxed, white-walled boutique. Her clothes, often blended from raw silks,…
Venice
Tucked away among the tourist shops and mainstream chains on bustling Salizada San Lio, Silvia has carved out a niche by sourcing footwear by quirky and…
Udine
This small but beguiling shop warrants a peer in the window, even if you're not shopping. A collection of amazing 20th-century furniture and objects …
Central Tuscany
Known for its homemade smallgoods made with pork from local cinta senese and grey pigs, and for cheese made with local milk, this modern shop also sells,…
The Dolomites
Jars, tins and bottles of delicious things to take home line this redolently traditional deli. Self-caterers could do worse than a jar of boar ragù, and…
Venice
Consult the bibliophile staff for worthy vacation reads, page-turning Venetian history or top picks from shelves groaning under the weight of Italian…
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
Hidden at the back of a leafy courtyard, you'll find a surprisingly serene and well-curated outlet store. With three levels of apparel for men and women…
Centro Storico
At her boutique in the former workshop of Renaissance goldsmith Benvenuti Cellini, Patrizia Corvaglia crafts her own line of jewellery. Her abstract,…
Rome
This historic enoteca has been supplying Parioli's wine buffs since 1929. It has a formidable collection of Italian regional wines, as well as European…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Fabriano makes distinctive stationery including deeply desirable leather-bound diaries, decorative notebooks and products embossed with street maps of…
Perugia
Built into the 14th-century Porta Sant'Angelo, this is a choice spot for a bottle of local wine and foodie specialities from Umbria and neighbouring…
Mount Etna
On the eastern slopes of Mt Etna, the small town of Zafferana Etnea has a long tradition of apiculture, producing up to 35% of Italy's honey. For a taste,…
San Giovanni & Testaccio
Run by Hate Records, Soul Food is a laid-back record store with an encyclopaedic collection of vinyl that runs the musical gamut from ’60s garage and…
Laboratorio di Ceramiche Artistiche
Salina
Multicoloured floor tiles, many of them one-of-a-kind historic pieces from the Naples area, are displayed for sale on the generous gravel courtyard…
Mercato Antiquario Città di Bologna
Bologna
Bologna's excellent and atmospheric antiques market takes over Piazza Santo Stefano on the second Saturday and Sunday of the month. It's a great spot for…
