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It’s no secret that Venice offers some excellent shopping opportunities, but the best of them are often not the most conspicuous. Look beyond the ubiquitous street vendors and the hundreds of virtually indistinguishable purse, glass, and lace shops that line the calli, and you’ll discover a bounty of unique and delightful treasures—some might be kitschy, but much will show off the high level of craftsmanship for which Venice has long been known.
Alluring shops abound. You'll find countless vendors of trademark Venetian wares such as Murano glass and Burano lace; the authenticity of some goods can be suspect, but they're often pleasing to the eye regardless of their heritage. For more sophisticated tastes (and deeper pockets), there are jewelers, antiques dealers, and high-fashion boutiques on a par with those in Italy's larger cities but often maintaining a uniquely Venetian flair. Don’t ignore the contemporary, either: Venice's artisan heritage lives on in the hand and eye of the today’s designers—no matter where they hail from.
While the labyrinthine city center can seem filled with imposing high-fashion emporiums and fancy glass shops, individual craftspeople often working off the main thoroughfares produce much of what is worth taking home from Venice. In their workshops artful stationery is printed with antique plates; individual pairs of shoes are adroitly constructed; jewelry is handcrafted; fine fabrics are skillfully woven; bronze is poured to make gondola décor, and iron is worked into fanali lanterns; paper is glued, pressed, and shaped into masks; and oars and forcola oarlocks are hewn and sculpted in the workshops of remér wood craftsmen.
If you're looking for an authentic Venetian mask, this is the place to go. Owner Stefano and his talented team of artists create exquisite handmade masks that can be custom ordered if you don't see what you want, as well as shipped worldwide.
This glass artist's workshop features unusual, intricate pieces inspired by nature—birds, butterflies, beetles, and other insects—appreciated by adults and children alike.
A play on the term for Venice's flooding, acqua alta, this tiny but bountiful shop operated by a social cooperative sells natural, fair-trade products, some from Third World artisans (therefore "altra," or "other"). The quality is notably higher than some similar stores, and there is a wide range of items, including shampoo, jam, hand-knitted scarves, reusable cotton cloth to wrap food, herbal teas, coffee, water bottles, and more. If nothing else, buy a bar of the delectable Modica chocolate, made in Sicily following the Mesoamerican cold-processing techniques introduced by the Spanish.
Venice is full of stores selling fanciful Carnival masks made of papier-mâché, but at Ca' Macana you can paint your own. This is one of Venice's oldest mask shops, and they have plenty of experience in organizing mask-painting workshops for you and your family (children welcome from 4 years old and up). You will learn about the history of some of the classic masks, and about different materials and techniques. It isn't cheap but you can be proud to have a Venetian treasure completely made by hand and that is clearly one of a kind.
A large showroom offering lots of gilded creations, both traditional and new, is a must-see. Ask about the mask-making workshops.
The gondola and lagoon boat expert in Venice creates scale models of a wide variety of Venetian boats in his nearby laboratorio (workshop). (If the retail shop is closed, a sign posted on the door will explain how to find Signor Penzo.) When he's not busy sawing and sanding, Mr. Penzo writes historical and technical books about traditional Venetian boats, including the gondola. Here you'll also find gondola model kits, as well as some forcole (Venetian rowing oarlocks).
Here are not only costumes for rent, but masks in every Venetian style. Pick your century, from 17th to 19th, for historically accurate styling. Shoes, hats, and capes complete the ensemble. There are period costumes for boys and girls, too.
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.
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.
Solid, large-piece jigsaw puzzles (painted or in natural wood colors) depict animals, views of Venice, and trompe l'oeil scenes. Ideal for toddlers, the puzzles also look nice hanging on a wall.
