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Al Canton Del Vin
Wine is as important to life for Venetians as water and a fine take-home tradition persists in Venice for tipplers unable or unwilling to spend on big labels. These wine-stores are crammed with huge glass damigiane (demijohns). From these monsters, each containing a sea of modest Veneto table wine, you make a choice and have it poured into whatever you bring - used wine or mineral-water bottles, it's up to you. You will be charged, on average, around €2 per litre.
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Aliani
For its outstanding collection of cheeses and other delicatessen products, Aliani has long been a favoured gastronomic stop in the Rialto area. Wander in and savour the aromas, casting your eyes over the seemingly limitless range of edibles.
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Antica Modisteria Giuliana Longo
Want some fancy headgear? This is the millinery stop. From gondoliers' caps to the most extravagant ladies' hats and a range of imported fashion for the head, you'll find it all here. In the window and inside, all manner of extravagant ear coverings are displayed at jaunty angles.
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Antichità Claudia Zaggia
Nadia Viani runs this little Aladdin's Cave of, well, just about anything. Depending on the day, you might discover an Art Nouveau necklace, preloved pearls, old glassware, or rosy-faced ceramic dolls from another era.
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Antiquus
This inviting shop along the continuation of Calle delle Botteghe, where several antiques stores reside, boasts a solid collection of old masters, silver and antique jewellery. In among the few items of furniture sit grand tea sets and other aristocratic bric-a-brac. Just wandering around all this social history is a pleasure for the eyes.
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Araba Fenice
This is a stylish local alternative to the big names nearby for elegant women's suits, usually cut from wool or linen. Or the long dresses with matching nifty vests might catch your eye. A few steps west, at the bridge, is the house where 15-year-old Mozart stayed with friends and had a whale of a time during Carnevale in 1771.
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Arca
The designs in this eye-catching shop are powerful and, for some, the colours are possibly a little strong. Teresa della Valentina paints her tiles and other ceramic objects in bold, bright, deep colours, with reds dominant.
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Arte Ebraica
Purveys all sorts of handmade objects in bronze, filigree silver, pewter, crystal and ceramics (such as mezuzahs, or parchment cases). It also deals in rare books and manuscripts.
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Artistica Ferro
Want a perfect replica fero de prova (the iron piece that graces the prow of the gondola and represents the six sestieri of Venice)? This is your place.
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Atelier Pietro Longhi
Fancy a helmet and sword to go with your tailor-made Carnevale costume? Or indeed, just about any kind of costume item, from a Harlequin outfit through to 18th-century gala wear? The shop provides costumes for opera companies and offers accessories ranging from 17th-century wigs to antique English pistols.
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Attombri
For centuries, the long gallery running along the Palazzo dei Dieci Savi in Rialto glistened with the wares of the oresi (goldsmiths). Nowadays, about half a dozen gold and jewellery shops eke out a living here. Attombri is the exception. The inventive Byzantine-style jewellery constitutes a captivating and original collection, and not just in gold.
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Bac Art Studio
This studio has paintings, aquatints and engravings signed by two local artists, Cadore and Paolo Baruffaldi, that make fine gifts. Cadore concentrates his commercial efforts on Venetian scenes, while Baruffaldi depicts masked people. Other artists are thrown into the mix.
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Bambolandia
A delightful world of old-fashioned toys and handmade dolls of all descriptions awaits. If you can't convince the kids of the merits of these items over PlayStations, perhaps you'll be captivated yourself and pick something up as decorative nostalgia.
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Berengo
Here is a purveyor of glass that has long abandoned any pretence of functionality in its products. This is glass for art's sake and the company's master glass-makers work to designs by contemporary artists, such as Turin-born Riccardo Licata, long a lagoon resident.
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Bochaleri In Campo
Held around the last weekend of April on Campo Bandiera e Moro, this pottery market attracts ceramicists with their variegated handmade plates, pots, jewellery, jars and more from all over the Veneto.
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Bugno Art Gallery
This gallery has some works by contemporary artists on permanent display, although money is the object. While you might not be able to afford a Miró or De Chirico, there's plenty of other material for the modern-art collector.
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Ca' Del Sole
Although much of what is on sale here is aimed at the theatre business, anyone can purchase a fantasy in this House of the Sun. The masks are of a high standard.
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Ca' Macana
Wander in and watch the artists at work on the raw papier-mâché of future masks. Apparently Stanley Kubrick was impressed - he placed a rather large order for his last picture, Eyes Wide Shut . Along black walls the finished products gaze down at you, beckoning to be donned.
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Caffè Costarica
Since 1930 the Marchi family has been importing coffee from Costa Rica and other coffee-producing countries, and toasting it up daily for your delectation. If you don't want to take any away, sip on your favourite mix at the bar.
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Camiceria San Marco
Have quality shirts tailor-made in San Marco! If you can wait 10 or so days, choose from numerous models the kind that suits you best and then pick the material, anything from cotton to silk. Dressing gowns and silk pyjamas are options too. Wander in and inspect the limitless bolts of material waiting to be turned into your clothes.
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Cantina Del Canton
Wine is as important to life for Venetians as water and a fine take-home tradition persists in Venice for tipplers unable or unwilling to spend on big labels. These wine-stores are crammed with huge glass damigiane (demijohns). From these monsters, each containing a sea of modest Veneto table wine, you make a choice and have it poured into whatever you bring - used wine or mineral-water bottles, it's up to you. You will be charged, on average, around €2 per litre.
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Carraro
Stylish frames for glasses almost leap out at you in their colourful splendour and variety from this shop window. This is one of the best central stores for fashionable glasses with a bit of a difference.
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Codognato
Possibly the city's best-known jeweller, Codognato sells classic, antique and contemporary pieces that have attracted the likes of Jackie Onassis in their time. Whether she bought any of the pieces with the skulls motifs is unknown. Attilio Codognato continues the tradition of his ancestors, who opened the store in 1866.
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Coin
This is a rarity in Venice. Although not gargantuan, Coin brings a bit of modest department-store action to canalside shoppers, with this branch specialising in affordable men's and women's clothes and accessories. Another branch, on Campo San Luca, specialises in beauty products and accessories.
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Drogheria Mascari
Let your mouth water over a range of cheeses, local cold meats and all sorts of other goodies (truffles, spices, teas and jams). There is a good range of sweets, including slabs of chocolate and nougat (especially around Christmas. To top it all off is a limited selection of fine Italian Veneto wines. Bliss.
