4 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.