548 Best Places to Shop in Italy

Stones are worked into exquisite tables, pictures, and jewelry at Pitti Mosaici, which continues the pietre dure (mosaic) tradition that was all the rage of 16th-century Florence.

One of the biggest flea markets in Italy welcomes shoppers in droves every Sunday from 7 am to 2 pm. Treasure seekers and bargain hunters love scrounging around the hundreds of tents for new and vintage clothing and accessories, antique furniture, used books, and other odds 'n' ends. Bring your haggling skills, and cash (preferably small bills—it'll work in your favor when driving a bargain); many stallholders don't accept credit cards, and the nearest ATM is a hike.

Stylish bags, boots, and jewelry are displayed in this branch of the luxury Milanese brand.

Mario Prada founded the Italian luggage brand in 1913, but it has been his granddaughter, Miuccia, who updated the designs into the timeless investment pieces of today. You'll find the Rome store more service-oriented than the New York City branches—a roomy elevator delivers you to a series of thickly carpeted salons where a flock of discreet assistants will help you pick out dresses, shoes, lingerie, and fashion accessories. The men's store is located at Via Condotti 88/90, while the women's is down the street at 92/95.

Known to mix schoolmarmish sensibility with sexy cuts and funky fabrics, Prada appeals to an exclusive clientele.

Founded in Milan in 1913 selling steamer trunks and handbags, Prada has several locations throughout the city. Its store on Via Montenapoleone showcases its women's collection.

Cognoscenti drive 45 minutes (or take the train to Montevarchi, and then a taxi) to find a bargain here.

This Florentine institution sells casual clothes for men and women at far-from-casual prices. It also has a great housewares department.

Started in 1996, Pro Fumum (also seen as Pro Fvmvm) is a cult classic in Italian fragrance design. Each of its unisex scents comes with a poem that describes the intention of the artisans. The philosophy here is that smell can trigger memories more powerfully than any photo, so the pricey-but-worth-it fragrances are created to evoke experiences like walking through a forest or listening to a thundering Roman fountain.

Well-heeled moms shop for their budding fashionistas at Pure Sermoneta where you'll find garments straight off the catwalk. High-end luxury labels include Fendi, Diesel, Dior, Marni, Juicy Couture, Nolita, and Gucci, with the designer price tags to rival any adult-sized shopping spree.

Right across from the cathedral, this fabulously abundant store is the place to stock up on food and food-adjacent items, including pasta, pesto, biscuits, Marsala wine, limoncello, and lemon soaps. Most of the articles on sale are from small local producers, and you can sample some of the edible items on offer by ordering a panino or a salad to eat in or take out.

Dating from 1938, this shop showcases exquisite, antique, micro-mosaic jewelry painstakingly crafted in the style perfected by the masters at the Vatican mosaic studio. The small works were beloved by cosmopolitan clientele of the Grand Tour age and offer modern-day shoppers a taste of yesteryear's grandeur. You'll also find 18th- and 19th-century cameos and beautiful engraved stones, one-of-a-kind rings from the 1960s and ’70s, as well as contemporary jewelry.

This shop has been vending high-quality clothing—the kind that goes next to bare skin—since 1895. Remember that luxury comes at a price.

This charming shop near the Piazza Campo de' Fiori sells original and whimsical handmade children's clothing. If you're looking for something truly unique, Rachele (the Swedish owner and designer) makes only two of everything for tykes up to age 12. Your children can make a statement with any of her cute pants, trapeze skirts, or rainbow-color tops.

The exclusive dealer since 1967 of some of the most famous living artists on the Italian scene shows work by Venetian surrealist Ludovico De Luigi, metaphysical painter Andrea Vizzini, and glass sculptor Primo Formenti.

Sitting in the shadow of the Pantheon, Replay has jeans and T-shirts with that little extra Italian kiss that makes everything fashionable and casual-chic rather than sloppy. Denim styles range from punk to hip-hop, though there are also some jeans with more traditional cuts.

The Rialto fish, fruit, and vegetable markets have been operational in this same location for more than a thousand years. It's a food potpourri; scan the stalls to see what you might be dining on during your stay (or better yet, rent an apartment and experiment yourself). Look for the word "nostrano" ("ours," meaning local) when shopping to identify the most local fish and produce. For enthusiasts of seppie (cuttlefish), be aware that the older the fish is, the more black ink will be covering it. Only a few butchers survive, but this could be your chance to try horsemeat, tripe, pigs' feet, chicken livers, and other things that used to be everyday food here.

Opened in 1981, the fascinating Rigatteria is crammed with antiques, paintings, and a cornucopia of printed matter, including books, newspapers, and magazines, many documenting Triestina life over the decades.

Famous for his wild-animal prints, Roberto Cavalli creates sexy designs for men and women.

Rome's handiest central shopping mall is this cluster of shops that stays open until 10 pm (even on Sunday), conveniently located right inside Rome's biggest train station, Stazione Termini. In a city not exactly known for its convenient shopping hours, this "shop before you hop" hub is a good spot for last-minute goodies. Stores include ever-popular chains like Mango, Moleskine, and Sephora; bookshops with good selections of English-language best sellers; a grocery store; and a well-stocked food court.

Romanesco is one of the more colorful Italian dialects and a lot gets lost in translation. This creative shop shills humorous mugs, tote bags, and magnets emblazoned with popular local phrases along with definitions not found in any dictionary.

The enticing selection of tasteful Murano glass accessories, figures, and chalices at Rose Douce includes jewelry made with antique Murano beads and braided gold.

At Rossi Alabaster, which has been around since 1912, you can watch artisans create household items in alabaster and then buy their wares.

If you feel like indulging in a custom-made suit or shirt, try this world-famous haberdashery that's been in business since the 19th century. In the 16th-century Palazzo Cellamare, you can watch the tailors at work.

The boutiques of Roberto Russo are favored by fashion folk. Russo Capri has one of the island's largest selections of casual chic clothes.

The Japanese aesthetic is quite apparent in the ceramic and porcelain bowls, plates, vases, and teapots, with inviting clean, natural lines and muted colors, of artist-owner Maria Teresa Laghi and her collaborators. Her silk scarves are just as appealing.

Established in 1857, Salvadori features sparkling diamonds and other precious stones set in the shop's own designs. They have two other shops in Piazza San Marco that specialize in watches: Boutique Rolex (Piazza San Marco 44) and Panerai Venezia (Piazza San Marco 47).

This Florence-based brand is a leader in leather goods and accessories, and carries designs for men and women in this store.