The Billa on Strada Nova closed down. I think they are renovating the building or something - it looks pretty thrashed.

So sorry to hear that and sorry I gave you false information. I am surprised that it has closed down since it wasn't opened for very long. We were in Venice two years ago and it wasn't there and then when we went last year it was. I am surprised it is closed when it always seemed to be very busy and it was so new.

In Florence there is a small supermarket on VS Monaca.Monaca runs off of Serragli and ends in Piazza del Carmine. I stayed at Residenza Il Carmine on via del Arglione which was right around the corner from the supermarket when I was in Florence in September. Where will you be staying? Hope this helps.

Re: Venice, the Billa on Strada Nuova is indeed closed for renovations (it used to be Standa by the way); I believe they have opened another one in Calle S.Girolamo, near the Ghetto.

There is also a supermarket called "FULL" very close to La Forcola - walk out on the Rio Terà della Maddalena, turn right and go over the bridge, it'll be on your left. Not sure if it's the one that rialtogrl mentioned (the Suve one I mean)? I don't go to that part of the city very often so I can't remember which name it is, but there definitely is a supermarket there.

Federico

Federico, Full is definitely the market I was thinking of. I just couldn't remember the name.

If you stop at an open market in Venice, whatever you do, don't touch the produce until you are ready to buy it, then just point to it. A couple times I touched it and the vendor seemed upset and said what seemd to be harsh words. Has that happened to anyone else?

offlady, oh yes!! I have mentioned on other post that in Italy was does NOT touch the produce. Even in supermarkets.

In supermarkets they supply plastic gloves to put on before you touch any produce. In outdoor markets just point, do NOT TOUCH.

Why, I do not know. As many times as I have been to Italy I still am at a lost about this as Italian women always wash the produce when they take it home and prepare it for their meal.

But in Italy, Do Not Touch The Produce With Ones Bare Hands!

cruzingypsy, while in Florence I am staying at this convent right in Piazza del Carmine:
http://www.fmmfirenze.it

I promise not to touch the produce!

There's a supermarket in the basement of the Coin Department Store in Venice:

Coin, Salizzada San Giovanni Grisostomo 5790, Cannaregio

I really liked the smaller, family run grocery stores that are found all over. THe one we frequented was close to the Piazza Novana sold wine from casks. You either brought your own bottle or they sold you an empty one. The wine came from the owner's village. It was inexpensive and very good. The smell of cheese and meat in these deli/grocery stores is overwhelming. Most are more than happy to make sandwiches for you on the wonderful Italian crusty rolls. Just thinking of it makes me want to go back.

If I remember correctly, the small markets will charge you to use the carts and will charge you a fee for the bags that they put your groceries in. Seems like it was 50 cents to use the carts, and 10 cents a bag. So you might be wise to take a basket, or plastic bags, with you to the market.

Thanks rialtogrl, will take your advice.

Anyone with more info on smaller markets?

Just an up-to-date info since I returned from Venice yesterday.

The Billa supermarket on the Strada Nuova was open. It is 5 minutes walk from Campo Sants Apostoli(Rialto side)and just before a bridge, on the right. I was staying at Hotel Foscari Palace (great 4-star hotel for a modest price!) at Campo Sofia between Campo SS Apostoli & the Billa market so I just hopped in there on the day of departure and bought Venitian hard type cakes and a bottle of prosecco for my colleagues at work. The place was rather large (for Venice anyway) and looked very clean.

ttt

And in supermarkets, in addition to the gloves, don't forget to bag and weigh your own produce and attach the sticker that will print out with the weight and price.

I learned this the very hard way, in the supermarket on the Zattere mentioned above. I had thrown a few apples and bananas loose in my basket, along with a few things like bottles of water and toothpaste.

Naturally, the line up at the checkout was long; the woman sitting behind the till rang up the other items, then when she got to the unbagged, unmarked produce she began to yell at me in Italian. I was seriously mortified, had no idea what I had done wrong! A very kind teenage girl in the line behind me (which now had to wait, impatiently) literally gathered up my fruit, led me back to the scales in the produce department and showed me how to use them.

Then, I was able to close the deal (while the line-up fumed.) I'm now very careful in Italian supermercatos!