Are the shoes in Italy cheaper than in USA?If so, where are the best buys? If anyone has store info in either Rome or Florence, <BR>please reply. <BR> <BR>Thank you

Italian shoes are definitely cheaper, especially in this day of the Herculean dollar!

Florence is THE leather center of Italy. Buy the shoes there. For women's shoes search a store called Lilly's of Florence a world famous brand carried at stores of the caliber of Nordstrom, Saks, etc. WOnderful shoes and good prices.

oh yeah, Florence is IT. Leather everything. I overdosed on leather stuff. gifts for everyone, purses, shoes, bags, coats. and the styles are wonderful... <BR> <BR>bring it on! gotta love the shopping in Florence...

Definitely Florence, if only because it's a smaller city and you can find such a wide variety of leather in just the outdoor market alone. I didn't think I'd ever need a leather jacket, but I ended up buying a beautiful one in Florence for about $95. Also bought a wonderful pair of leather sandals for $25 (this was back in 1998)!

In Rome- go to the Enzo store on via veneto--very different from the Enzo Angiolini shoes you find in US-- <BR>EVERYTHING IS CHEAPER IN ITALY NOW-as of today- the lira is 2300 lira to 1 USD. <BR>In FLORENCE-if you want very good reasonable 18kt jewelry-go to the Ponte Vecchio and go to a store on the Duomo side of the bridge called S.Vaggi- it's on the corner-ask for Roberto-he's the owner and he gives the best prices-he sells 18kt at $14-$15 a gram--cheaper than we can get 14 kt here in US and a lot more beautiful and different. If you want SUPERB leather clothes in FLorence- go to "Anna"- a store across from the Pitti Palace on the opposite side of the Arno River. Also at that end of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge is a glove store called MADOVA-they are manufactured in florence and I bought 2 pairs for under $100--1 pr.had weaving on the cuff like bottega veneta gloves- the other were snakeshin with buckle cuffs-very different from stuff we see here--also the color selection was phenomenal! Also Prada,Fendi,Gucci and LV were 35% lower than US--remember to get VAT forms signed by shopkeepers if you spend over $200 in each store...you don't get vat forms in the flea markets. <BR>Then with VAT turn them in at the airport and get your 20% tax back!

Bought some exquisite shoes in Florence, a bag to match and a bag for our daughter, all after visiting the Accademia. Store name was Sarti...and they gave me the VAT paperwork. (We had shopped the vendors previously so I knew the bags were unusual and priced well) BTW, when you do the VAT thing at the airport, you get your refund in cash. US Dollars for the dollar amount, but lira for the odd "change." Never fear, in the duty free area you can mix/match currencies and charge cards. I got rid of my extra lira with a purchase of balsamic vinegar and Olive oil. This alone is good reason to check in two hours before your flight departs!

Oh yeah, I forgot to add -- try to shop in the morning when you aren't exhausted from sight-seeing. You'll be sharper and more interested. Of course, I'm now planning another trip so I can SHOP now that I've seen the major sights. Plus, there are some shops with handmade shoes (no way are these "inexpensive") but they are SO GORGEOUS, I would really have to plan to make a purchase like that. Of course, one needs magnificent shoes when one has to work so hard to pay for these fabulous trips.....yeah, that sounds like a good reason...think my husband will agree?