3 Best Places to Shop in Santa Croce, Venice

Margherita Rossetto has been creating unique, deliciously appealing faience-style majolica since 1989. Pieces include figures of animals, flowers, and fruit as well as abstract designs on a white background. She also fashions handmade greeting cards that are one-of-a-kind works of art in themselves. If you love cats you will enjoy her whimsical designs starring her own distinctive if highly stylized cat.

This tiny shop is overflowing with masks of all types, all handmade by the owner-artisan (you can often watch him making them). There's an excellent selection of styles at competitive prices.

Since 1997 the "Sea of Paper" has been Venice's best book and gift shop devoted to nautical themes. Books, calendars, navigation charts, and instruments, plus postcards, prints, toys, children's books and games, and even bags made of old sails are among the treasures you'll find here. There is also a wide variety of books on the Venetian lagoon and traditional Venetian boats.