32 Best Shopping in Sicily, Italy

Bonajuto is the oldest chocolate producer in town, dating from 1880. This busy shop on Modica Bassa's main street lets you sample many varieties of their delightful product before you buy, and also makes renowned cannoli and candied orange peel. Don't miss the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek video showing an American paratrooper during World War II, caught in a tree. He tries to bribe a little girl to get help with a Hershey bar, but she is unimpressed and wanders away eating Bonajuto chocolate.

One of the oldest ceramic factories in Sicily, La Giara sells a bit of everything from souvenirs to more substantial pieces of art. In their impressive showroom, you will find every possible style of Sicilian ceramics, from basic terra-cotta to elaborate hand-painted Baroque designs as well as large pieces of furniture. Still run by the same family that originally founded the factory, the quality and artistry of the pieces are guaranteed by many generations of experience. They also ship worldwide.

This historic food market is still the daily shopping center for residents of Ortigia and mainland Siracusa. Seafood stalls display the catch of the day, ranging from local clams that you'll find in most restaurants to sea urchins that normally only appear on the more expensive menus. Even in the colder months, the vegetable and fruit stalls are still vibrant and inviting. One thing to look out for is the local Pachino tomato. It has protected status and can be found fresh, dried, or reduced to a gloriously intense thick paste called strattu, dried in the sun, which adds fantastic deep flavors to soups and pasta sauces. Intertwined within the stalls are several local bars where you can rest and take in the hustle and bustle of local Italian food culture. The market is open every day except for Sunday, from 7 am to 1:45 pm.

Beginning behind the Fontana Amenano at the corner of Piazza Duomo and spreading westward between Via Garibaldi and Via Transito, this is one of Italy's most memorable markets. It's a feast for the senses, with ricotta, fresh produce, endless varieties of meats, thousands of just-caught fish (some still wriggling), plus a symphony of vendor shouts to fill the ears. The market is at its best in early morning and finishes up around 1 pm. It's open every day except Sunday.

Panarea native and stylist Giovanna Mandarano captures the vitality of the island with her women's clothing and accessories line that's known for bold prints, flowing fabrics, and lots and lots of color. Though there are now multiple locations throughout Sicily and in Rome, the original Panarea location, which opened in 2006, remains the heart of the collection. This is your go-to boutique for the effortlessly chic style that the island is known for.

Wind your way through the Albergheria district and this historic market, where the Saracens did their shopping in the 11th century—joined by the Normans in the 12th. The market's name is said to come from nearby Monreale, named Bahlara when Arab traders resided there, and it remains faithful to their original commerce of fruit, vegetables, and grain. These days the stalls are dotted with bars and outdoor restaurants where you can sample the produce, but the market has lost none of its authenticity—just keep a close eye on your belongings in the crowd. And go early: the action dies out by 4 pm most days.

French artist Elise Collet Soravito has made Alicudi her home, and in her studio, she creates chunky, colorful jewelry, pottery, and paintings inspired by the island, from lemon still-lifes to landscapes. Shopping is a very rudimentary experience (there's no storefront per se), but you can arrange a visit to see her work and pick up handcrafted souvenirs of your stay. 

Among Italians, Erice is known for the quality and delicate floral designs of its majolica ceramics, well represented in this ceramics store off Piazza San Domenico, one of the best in town.

This local ceramics factory and producer has been around since 1683 and is still a family business. The showroom is filled with unique hand-painted pieces that reflect the history and artistry of the town. The owner is often at the showroom and has been known to hand-wrap plates, cups, and other souvenirs.

Giovanna Colomba is the creative force behind this store near the hydrofoil port, where typical Sicilian motifs and artifacts are given a vibrant new style. There is no single theme to the choice of objects on sale, which include eye-catching handbags decorated with citrus fruits, flamboyant ceramics, colorful cushions, and T-shirts with floral designs, but all share a very Sicilian exuberance as well as respect for local tradition and quality of manufacture.

The primary passage between Taormina's two imposing gates (Porta Messina and Porta Catania) is a pedestrian-only thoroughfare lined with both locally owned boutiques and massive international chains. During the height of summer, it can be an untenable traffic jam of foot traffic, but in the shoulder seasons, it's a lovely quick stroll for shopping and stops for coffee at area cafés.

Exquisitely handcrafted jewelry is available at this shop on the main Corso, much of it using the coral for which Sciacca is famous. Buy from the examples on display here or work together with the exciting young designer Cristiana Turano Campello to create something to your exact tastes.

Owners Filippo and Jelena welcome shoppers into their well-stocked enoteca as if they are inviting friends into their home. In this little spot just outside the city center, they stock one of the area's best selections of Etna and Sicilian wines as well as boutique amari, Etna-distilled gins, and a whole wall of sparkling wine. Rely on their expertise to navigate the offerings. The couple knows every bottle in the shop and never tries a gratuitous upsell. 

The best wineshop in town has been family run for four generations and stocks a fantastic selection of Sicilian and national wines. Although service can be curt, you can taste a selection of wines by the glass in the front of the store. There are tables in the back, where meats and cheeses are also served.

For a more pop art take on traditional Sicilian ceramics, visit Folk, a little boutique and gallery run by artist Magda Masano. You'll find iconic ceramic pinecones and teste di Moro (a ubiquitous pair of heads) in vibrant colors such as emerald green, lilac, or turquoise. Additionally, there are kitchenwares like plates, spoon rests, and cheese boards, all made of lava stone.

The selection of almond-based delights here may be small, but everything is fresh and phenomenally good. Ask for boxes of mixed cookies by weight, add in some marzipan treats dedicated to Catania's patron, Sant'Agata, and enjoy the grab-bag selection at your leisure later. International shipping is available. This is the original and most historic location, but other stores can be found on Via San Giuseppe la Rena and Piazza Mancini Battaglia.

The charming "Mamma Andrea's Small Sins" sells a plethora of mouthwatering original creations, including jams, preserves, chocolates, and Sicilian treats like the superb marzipan frutta martorana (fruits and vegetables).

The classic Capri sandal has been part of the Italian summer uniform since the 1960s, and icons like Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, and Anita Ekberg ensured its enduring legacy. Stop into the Taormina outpost to have a pair custom-made.

Of the numerous ceramic shops in Caltagirone's old center, this one 13 steps up Caltagirone's fabled ceramic staircase is one of the best, selling eye-catching work with a modern aesthetic that is inspired by the town's long artisan tradition.

Italians are passionate about footwear, and the summer island uniform requires a collection of sandals for that perfect dolce far niente look. This third-generation shoe shop specializes in bespoke hand-crafted sandals made from all-natural materials like leather and snakeskin. Choose your style (from some 20-plus designs), heel height, material, and color. They'll measure your foot, and within 30 minutes your custom sandals are ready to walk out the door. 

Born from owner Natalie Rossi's dream in 2014 to start a new life (mollo tutto means to throw it all away), this playful shop started by producing T-shirts and now has a whole line of casual nautical-theme clothing.

As the largest shopping mall in Messina province, Parco Corolla offers a nice selection of Italian fashion stores, including children's clothing, accessories, perfume, and jewelry. In addition, a shopping district surrounds the mall with many other diverse stores, including a food hall and a cinema.

One of the most famous sweets shops in Italy, this is the place to find pastry favorites like cannoli and cassata siciliana, as well as excellent gelato in summer. There is also an on-site restaurant pizzeria.

Artisan Barbara Calabresi hand-dyes yarns and silk with vegetable dyes from the island's flora (such as chamomile, artichokes, and pomegranates); she weaves the thread into fabric, and then designs and produces clothing and housewares (like tablecloths, bedspreads, and rugs) from the cloth. You can shop her charming boutique or sign up for a course to learn to dye (two days; €130) where you'll forage the island to find seasonal botanicals to produce your own dye, or to weave (one day; €130) on a "nomadic" loom. Both classes are suitable for beginners.

For all your caftan needs—the effortlessly stylish uniform of summer—the team at Tacchi Dadi e Datteri has you covered. Breezy linen dresses form the heart of their offerings, but you'll also find breathable button-downs, men's seersucker swim trunks, and colorful alpargatas that are Sicily's chic answer to Tom's. They have a second location on Filicudi, just off the port.

The coppola, or flat cap, is as Sicilian as cassata ice cream, though this traditional workingman's headwear has become something of a rarity in recent decades. Here, though, it makes a triumphant revival, lovingly transformed into something more akin to a fashion accessory while retaining its original style and function. You'll find every variation of it in this shop, from the sober and utilitarian to the colorful and outrageous, but always "handmade in Sicily" and even made to order.

The brainchild and passion project of a former graphic designer, Uau sells handmade leather bags with a bit of whimsy. Look for clutches inspired by old coin purses, slim backpacks in nature-inspired prints, and bold shoulder bags—the whole line wouldn't be out of place in a Tim Burton film. 

First opened in 2019, this Catanesi-owned shop and clothing line embraces body positivity. So much so, they abandoned all traditional sizes and instead offer five unique fits. Constucted with an eye on sustainability, the clothes are made of all natural, vegetal fabrics. And the owners work with local women artisans to highlight their hand-crafted accessory wares (like necklaces and purses) within the shop. 

The Argento family has been in the puppet business since the late 19th century, and the tradition is alive and well in the hands of Vincenzo, whom you can see at work in his tiny workshop, or laboratorio artistico, near the Cathedral. Here you will find puppets in all stages of production, with plenty of examples for sale in all their finery.