Naples
La Scarabattola's handmade sculptures of magi (wise men), devils and Neapolitan folk figures constitute Jerusalem's official Christmas crèche, and the…
Naples
La Scarabattola's handmade sculptures of magi (wise men), devils and Neapolitan folk figures constitute Jerusalem's official Christmas crèche, and the…
Livorno
Livorno-born Stefano Pilato (b. 1965) is the creative talent behind the sculptures and collages crafted from recycled tools, scrap metal, old hooks and…
Turin
A delightfully eccentric collection of handmade objects, light fittings, posters, textiles, cards and calendars fills this bright shop, which is run as a…
Milan
One of Milan’s most historic outfits (with a plaque to prove it), Pettinaroli has been furnishing the city’s best desks and purses since 1881 with luxe…
Confetteria Moriondo & Gariglio
Centro Storico
Roman poet Trilussa was so smitten with this chocolate shop – established by the Torinese confectioners to the royal house of Savoy – that he was moved to…
Siena
Lorenzo Rossi is Siena's best baker, and his panforte (spiced fruit-and-nut cake), ricciarelli (sugar-dusted chewy almond biscuits) and cavallucci (chewy…
Arezzo
A treasure trove of locally grown and produced foodstuffs, this organic market sells fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, dried pasta and legumes,…
The Veneto
This gorgeous bookshop, housed in an 18th-century noble palace, is one of the most beautiful in Italy, if not the world. Owned by the three Manfrotto…
Alghero
A cool independent bookshop doubling as a cafe and cultural centre. Most books are in Italian, but in summer it stocks a small range of English-language…
Lucca
Be it a metallic-gold table bag for wine, a stone to keep your paper bread basket’s contents warm, body-care products made from olive oil or beautiful…
Southern Tuscany
Showcasing produce from the local farm of the same name, this shop is manna from heaven for self-caterers – look out for top-quality Maremmana beef, honey…
Naples
One-time favourite of Luchino Visconti and Aristotle Onassis, this pocket-sized, vintage boutique is the place for prêt-à-porter and made-to-measure silk…
Urbino
The best spot in town for local products, with an encyclopeadic selection of casciotta d'Urbina cheeses, salumi, biscotti (biscuits), wines, craft beers,…
Lucca
For an exquisite pair of handmade leather shoes (men and women), jackets and leather accessories, delve into the fashionable boutique of Florentine…
Cagliari
Cagliari's historic morning food market is exactly what a thriving market should be: busy, noisy and packed with fresh, fabulous produce such as fish,…
Trieste
This jewel-box pastry shop and cafe was one of Joyce's favourites. Its nutty, spicy, boozy Triestine speciality cakes – putizza, presnitz and pinza – are…
Venice
Nelson Kishi's studio contains wonderful prints and original works, mainly in ink on paper, many of them depicting Venetian scenes. Kishi's delicate and…
The Veneto
Taking over the town's main piazza and surrounding streets, Asolo's monthly antiques market is one of the region's finest, peddling anything and…
Verona
Don’t be fooled by the name – this is no ordinary dusty antique shop. Rather, it is a treasure trove of vintage posters, maps, prints, engravings and…
Calabria
Even among Italian delicatessens, this long-established salumeria is something special. It’s a temple to all things fungoid (get your Sila porcini here),…
Volterra
One of only four female alabaster carvers in Volterra, Gloria Giannelli creates elegant hand-carved pieces that are rich in fretwork detail – the vases,…
Palermo
After years living abroad, Loredana Lo Verde returned to her native Palermo, opening this little studio-gallery in La Kalsa. Inspired by Sicilian icons,…
Venice
All of the Griffin's brightly coloured leather belts, bags and wallets are proudly made right here, using only traditionally tanned leather from Tuscany…
Milan
Founded in Rome in 1945, Brioni has been synonymous with luxury since the get-go. Its name comes from the beautiful Brijuni Islands in Croatia, a favoured…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
Despite Taschen’s catalogue of beautiful books, it’s the interior of their Via Meravigli showroom that steals the show. Art books sit splendidly in steel…
Santa Maria Novella
Design objects for the home – made in Italy and many upcycled – as well as jewellery, bags and belts crafted from old bicycle tyres and inner tubes by…
San Lorenzo & San Marco
This family-run ceramics workshop and showroom, founded by the Sbigoli family in 1857, is littered with hundreds of handmade and painted tableware pieces…
Duomo & San Babila
From humble beginnings in Monza in 1924, Pietro and Maria Zaccardi built the Brian & Barry brand from scratch. Their impressive, 12-storey flagship store,…
Venice
Husband-and-wife team Francesco and Marianna run this classy store that stocks some of the most brilliant names in Italian fashion. Delicate silks and…
Milan
Metrosexual men the world over make a beeline for chic menswear and lifestyle store Larusmiani, which is home to heritage grooming experts G. Lorenzi…
Milan
Retailer Rosy Biffi spotted potential in the young Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace long before they became household names. More recently, Biffi got…
Milan
Stationery lovers won't be the only ones going quietly ga-ga in this showroom which stocks the entire Fabriano line. Everything from plain notebooks to…
Duomo & San Babila
With collaborations with international brands and designers such as Missoni, Etro and Anna Molinari under her belt, Uberta Zambeletti launched her own…
Milan
For unique, one-off costume jewellery pieces, bags and hair pieces, look no further than the boutique of Donatella Pellini, granddaughter of famous…
Milan
Established in Omegna in 1921, Italy's most famous design factory has gone on to transform our homes with more than 22,000 crafted utensils, many of which…
Milan
Started as a carpet shop in 1979, this is now one of the best collectable design galleries in town, curated under the watchful eye of inimitable Nina…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
Many Milanese from a certain kind of family will recall regular Pupi Solari visits for shoe fittings and picking out exquisitely decorated party dresses…
Oltrarno
Every book tells a different story in this absolutely fascinating artist's workshop, home to Milan-born Lorenzo Perrone who creates snow-white Libri…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
Created by Milanese fashion icon Lino Ieluzzi, this store is a must for all sartorially inclined men. More than just showcasing the Italian look, it's…
Venice
This postage-stamp-sized shop on the bridge of San Moisé sells fabulous jewellery by Muranese sisters Marina and Susanna Sent, whose designs can also be…