548 Best Places to Shop in Italy

Drawing heavily on ancient Roman and Etruscan designs, the jewelry from former costume designer Massimo Maria Melis will carry you back in time. Working with 21-karat gold, he often incorporates antique coins in many of his exquisite bracelets and necklaces. Some of his pieces are done with an ancient technique, much loved by the Etruscans, in which tiny gold droplets are fused together to create intricately patterned designs.

Browse collections by lesser-known Italian designers, many of whom use the same factories as the A-list, at this women's clothing shop.

These weekday markets stretch along the busy canal and nearby Strada Nova, where locals come to pick up fruit, vegetables, and fish.

The best place in the city for fruit and vegetables, this market can be found several blocks northwest of Piazza Carità off Via Toledo.

For low-price and surprisingly high-quality clothing, shoes, and linens, head to this morning market. There are also stalls selling fruit and vegetables.

Open four days a week (Friday–Monday), this market is a little farther out than most, but it has a vast selection of shoes in all styles and sizes, and at uniformly low prices. Clothes, antiques, and other items are also for sale. Some locals insist that the best bargains can be found on Friday.

This Thursday-morning market mainly sells clothing—from designer to vintage—and household items. Arrive early for the best bargains.

Volterra's market is held on Saturday morning from November to April in Piazza dei Priori and from May through October in Vallebuona, near Teatro Romano. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, vendors sell everything from corkscrews to intimi (underwear).

As everywhere else, the town brightens on mercato (open-air market) mornings, every Thursday and Saturday, in Piazza del Duomo. It's the place to pick up fresh fruits and other snacks.

This huge indoor food market offers a staggering selection of all things edible. Downstairs is full of vendors hawking their wares—meat, fish, fruit, vegetables—upstairs (daily 8 am–midnight) is full of food stalls serving up an array of Italian and international foods.

Every Thursday morning from September through June the covered loggia in Piazza della Repubblica hosts this lively market—a riot of plants, flowers, and difficult-to-find herbs.

If you're looking for cheery, inexpensive trinkets to take home, roam through the stalls under the loggia of the Mercato del Porcellino.

This food market and food hall that opened in 1910 bustles year-round.

Groceries and household items are sold at the cheapest prices at this popular market, along with jeans, shoes, and a surprising number of untagged name-brand items at half price or better.

The clothing and leather-goods stalls at Mercato di San Lorenzo in the streets next to the San Lorenzo church have bargains for shoppers on a budget.

The Monday- and Thursday-morning markets here cater to the wealthy residents of the central Brera neighborhood. In addition to food stands where you can get cheese, roast chicken, and dried beans and fruits, there are several clothing and shoe stalls that are important stops for some of Milan's most elegant women.

Taking its name from the common childhood demand “put me down,” this shop has been styling the littlest Romans for more than three decades. It's stocked with European brands to outfit children from head to toe, plus all the toys, bags, and adorable accessories a tiny tot can tote. There are two neighboring storefronts: one for ages 0–3 and the other for ages 4–14.

Famous for their kaleidoscope-pattern knits, this family-run brand sells whimsical designs for men and women.

Notable for its lightweight bohemian knitwear designs with instantly recognizable patterns of zigzags, waves, and stripes (some of which are influenced by folk art), the now high-end brand started in northern Italy producing tracksuits in the 1950s. Missoni now designs everything from elegant evening wear to must-have swimsuits, and is unlike other Italian fashion families: in three generations there have been neither vendettas nor buyouts by huge multinational conglomerates to stain their colorful history.

Shop for knitwear at the Florence outpost of the Italian brand known for its bold pieces.

Prada's more upbeat, youthful brand has a wide offering of boldly printed women's fashions and accessories.

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 handcrafted 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. 

Run by two friendly brothers, who took over the business from their father, this barbershop is preferred by actors performing at the nearby Teatro Sistina. It was founded in the 1970s and still has charmingly retro decor. They offer haircuts, beard care, manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages and have their own line of products. For extra privacy, you can request the private room.

Born from owner Natalie Rossi’s dream in 2014 to start a new life (mollo tutto means to throw it all away), this playful little shop has since grown up a lot. In addition to a line of nautical-themed clothing, some products are made from an innovative fabric created with recycled fishing nets, a project that not only respects the sea but raises awareness of its fragility. These garments are 100% sustainable, which makes a positive impact on the environment.

When strolling down Via del Governo Vecchio, a street popular for funky and edgy clothing boutiques, you can't help but stop and stare at this shop's windows, where the family-run business displays some of its best hippie-chick and bridal-chic gowns, as well as Japanese Noh theater–inspired coats. The highly original and highly coveted clothes are carefully crafted and hand-painted with one-of-a-kind designs.

Dating from 1850 and adhering strictly to family recipes passed on from generation to generation, this shop makes some of Rome's finest chocolate delicacies and other sweet treats. The selection of more than 80 confections includes everything from dark-chocolate truffles to marrons glacés. The chocolates shaped like every letter of the alphabet are perennial favorites, though.

Known for its bold prints, colors, and appliqués, Moschino is a brand for daring fashionistas.