I'll be in Rome for the first week of December. While I plan on doing plenty of site-seeing and roaming around (no pun intended...okay, that was just silly), I also wanted to do some Christmas shopping for my family.

Does anyone have any suggestions on great shops or cool markets to buy some nice but not grossly expensive things for my family?

The Christmas market should be open in Piazza Navona by then. It's not extensive, but you might enjoy it. You'll find a number of vendors selling nativity scenes and parts in various scales, as well as many vendors of sweet treats.

Hi Michelle - The main Christmas market in Rome - 'Natale Oggi' - is held at the Fiera di Roma, Via Cristoforo Colombo.

This is on the main road down to EUR from San Giovanni.

It's a 15 mins bus or taxi ride from the centre
- or 10 mins walk from S. Paolo metro stop.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Do you want Christmas-y things? The Christmas market at Piazza Navona was equally divided between Nativity scenes and candy shops -- and that was about it. We did go there and bought a little Befana ornament. I may be getting this wrong, but Befana (looks like a wicked witch) brings toys for kids on the 5th of January, sort of like Santa. It's a great souvenir but I didn't bring any home for my family.

The products in Piazza Navona are extremely cheap. I doubt you'll see anything worth purchasing.

While some of the items in the Piazza Navona market are cheap, the nativity figures were nice (and not cheap). There was also quite a bit of beautiful, and expensive, amber jewelry.

The hazelnuts in chocolate are good!

Thanks to all posts. I'm not looking so much for "Christmas" stuff as I am for Christmas gifts. This can be anything from clothes with a bit of Italian style for my sisters, to chocolates and treats for family members, etc. I also want to get a crucifix for my family for their home. Any ideas where I could get that?

The Vatican has many gift shops but the selection isn't very deep. I'm sure you could find a crucifix in the Ancora Book and Gift Shop on Via Conciliazione. It's on the left as you face St. Peter's Basilica.

You might find some nice gifts that at vendor stands around the Campo Fiori and at night in Trastevere. There are a lot of vendors selling wool scarves, jewelry, leather, fabrics from Africa, etc. You might find some unique items.

There are wonderful small shops and boutiques in the back streets of the Piazza Navona area going toward the Castle St. Angelo where you might find some unique things. Marbled paper in some of the paper stores make lovely gifts as does unique European kitchen gagets. Check out some of the little stores and artists in Trastevere, too.

You can bring back some olive oil or lemoncello wrapped in bubble wrap and packed in your suitcase or food items from a gourmet store.

There is a fantastic wood shop between the Pantheon and Hadrian's temple.

From the Pantheon, walk to your right onto Via dei Pastini. Walk down about 2 blocks, it is on the right.

Some really neat things and the prices are actually pretty good.

Thanks again for the suggestions - it sounds like there are shops at nearly every turn! The wood shop sounds really interesting, and I appreciate the advice on what little shopping plazas to stay away from.

Michelle,

Not quite the answer you're looking for but when you say the "first week", what specific dates are you in Rome?

The reason I ask is to share that I was in Rome last December, specifically on the 8th which is the Holy Day of the Immaculate Conception. Last year it fell on a Saturday, this year it's a Monday (so technically the 2nd week). Either way, that weekend is the official start of the Roman Christmas shopping season.

There were thousands of people on the streets that weekend and the highlight was seeing the Pope make his annual trip from the Vatican to lay a wreath at the base of the statue of the Virgin Mary at the Spanish Steps.

If you happen to hit those dates (this year they are December 6-8), you'll be in for an incredible treat in Rome!

And if by chance you are there, go to the statue of the Virgin Mary about 6:30am-7:00am on the morning of the 8th and watch the firemen place the wreaths on the top of the statue. Of my nearly dozen trips to Rome, that was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had there.

Thank you! I will be in Rome from 29 Nov-5 Dec, then again on the 10-12 of Dec...It's too bad I'll be missing the 8th for the Immaculate Conception of Mary, but I will still get to be there around that time frame. I'll get to spend the first Sunday of Advent in Rome, so I look forward to that special Mass in one of the many gorgeous cathedrals.

There were plenty of places all around Rome to do inexpensive shopping. I bought some really cheap scarves from street vendors and wear them all the time. They still look as good today as when I bought them last year.

Fancy pasta was also a hit as gifts for the family along with wine, lemonchello and jewelry.