Hello fellow travellers,<BR><BR>I am off to Florence and Rome, and want to know where to go shopping for -<BR><BR>1. Clothes (mentonables and non mentionables)<BR>2. Leather Jackets<BR>3. Shoes<BR>4. House things (platters etc)<BR><BR>I'm interested in areas/stores where the locals shop, and somewhere down to earth, ie not Versace or Prada where I'd drop a $1000 on a pair of pants!<BR><BR>thanks for your advice,<BR><BR>Happy Travelling<BR><BR>

When in Rome you absolutely must, must go to Sermoneta Gloves, I walked out with 7 pair for not even $200 and people stop me on the street to ask where I got them! They are located right at the bottom of the Spanish Steps! Can't miss it! For shoes don't rule out Bruno Magli, you can't touch them here in the US but there I paid a mere $90 per pair and well worth it! Have lots of fun!

Via Navonne good in Rome

topping

Agree with Sermonetta for Gloves...Gazelle off of Via Del Corso near Piazza Del Popolo for leather jackets and pants...everywhere in Florence for shoes...Caldezoni(not sure of spelling) in Florence for stockings, socks, and great bikinis for kids and adults. Lot's of nice boutiques near Campo Di Fiori in Rome...nice stores everywhere

Florence: Check out The Leather School. It is located in Santa Croce Church where Michaelango is buried. <BR><BR>Enter the church and walk to the far right corner. You will see signs that drect you to the Leather School. <BR><BR>We found high quality items made of leather both large and small. My wife got a great purse. I picked up a belt and some smaller items. Our friends did likewise. They will also put your initials in gold on any item at no charge if you ask. <BR><BR>We did not find the prices "cheap", but we did find the prices fair as we comparision shopped on remainder of this trip and one other trip.<BR><BR> Plus....you can also visit a great church with burial places of many famous people. I also purchased a jacket from a place near there but cannot remember the name. <BR><BR>Most of the sales reps in the shops around Santa Croce were drooling as the tourists walked in. This shop did not and they were very professional. If you don't like your rep in one of the shops.....bail. First impressions are probably true impressions.

Sermoneta has fabulous gloves. That have John G's stamp of approval, which is no small thing, darling.<BR><BR>I personally hate the leather store at Santa Croce. I think the purses and jackets lack line and style. The quality is very good, but the stuff looks like Wilsons at a middle-class mall in Iowa.<BR><BR>Ferragamo has beautiful leather, and you CAN hit a sale and find things at 50% off.<BR><BR>In Florence (as above), there are many shoes stores on the street between the Duomo and Piazza Signoria. You can find many stylish shoes here that aren't that expensive (about $60-$90).<BR><BR>Also in Florence, on the Oltarno, you will see many shops selling household items on the main street between Ponte Vecchio and the Pitti Palace. (I think it is Via Guicciardini.)<BR><BR>Hope that helps. Ciao bella.

My favorite store in Rome for great ceramics is at Piazza Navonna. I discovered it three years ago and now I go every time I can get to Rome. I don't know the name of the store - but it's right on the square on a street corner- they have the most wonderful platters, pitchers,etc andthey ship

Cherie,<BR> What kind of shipping do they provide and what was the shipping cost approximately?<BR><BR><BR> Laura

For leather coats, go to Romano Noi, off Via Tournabuoni in Florence, buttery suedes and bags to die for. You'll see them in Vogue ads the next season, but reasonable. For housewares, on the perimeter of the Central Market near the Medici Chapel is a store called Passementari something (Toscana?) which has the most gorgeous tassels, tapestry pillows, throws, etc. Easy flat stuff to fill your suitcases!Near the Osteria St. Caterina.

O Cherie, that shop off Piazza Navonna, selling ceramics is my favourite - those wonderful colours and designs of the Simone sisters (Desimone) from Sicily let me stop and return ever since! Is it the one you are referring to?<BR>Happy shopping Machel!

thank you all for your wonderful advice!<BR><BR>M

To Helen and Laura:<BR><BR>Yes Helen that's the same store I'm referring to I love the ceramics Laura- the shipping is not cheap I paid $200 for the platter- it is huge - and about $235 to ship it. I don't know whothey use but it took about 4-5 weeks for it to come and they insured it and it arrived safely. They have lots of things that are small enough to carry on the plane with you but the big stuff you really have to ship or risk breaking.

Passamaneria Valmar is at 53r Via Porta Rossa near Via Tornabouni. They also have a website: www.valmar-florence.com. I know that many members of the Hapsburg-Bourbon family shop here. Passamaneria Toscana is for tourists, god forbid.

I just got back last night from Rome, Florence, and Venice--the gloves at Madova in Florence are gorgeous and in every color. Sermonetta also has beautiful gloves, and there are several stores in both Rome and Florence. Calzedonia (in all three cities) has great socks and patterned hose for good prices. All in all, I think Florence had my favorite selection of shops, and everything was close together.

what are the best shopping centers in rome? CoiN?

x

<BR>Buy the book, LETS SHOP ITALY. They have it at Barnes/Noble, Borders.<BR>It was great. It also includes restaurants too. I wish I could find the same book for other countries. I only found it for Italy. My cousin bought "eye glass frames" because of a store in the book. <BR>The book gave us great shopping tips, where to buy and not to buy. Well worth the $6. Have fun.<BR>Jill

Up for any additional shopping suggestions.

In Florence, visit the open air market at San Lorenzo. Leather goods, scarves and neckties, pottery, clothing, just about anything. Not necessarily the most elegant merchandise, but not a flea market either, but locals shop there for a wide range of stuff and good prices.