While vacationing in Italy, you can visit various historical sites, museums, exhibitions, admire architectural monuments, soak up the warm beach, plunge into the gentle sea, climb high into the mountains and try various dishes of Italian cuisine. But in this case, we will talk about a slightly different kind of leisure, namely, shopping. After all, where else, besides Italy, you can buy both unique haute couture items and inexpensive outfits for everyday wear?
But, even deciding to spend a rather large amount of money, you should first find out where it is more profitable to make purchases, when the season of discounts comes, as well as the addresses of stores with exclusive goods and their cheaper counterparts.
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Shopping in Rome
The most expensive shops with fashionable items from prestigious brands are located in Piazza di Spagna. The place itself is already worth a visit. In the center is a boat-shaped fountain. Directly behind him to the Trinit`a dei Monti church rises a wide, slightly whimsical staircase, lined in the spring with large flowerpots with bright flowers.
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On the opposite side of the fountain, a street begins, the name of which thrills all fashionistas in the world, without exception. This is dei Condotti, which houses some of the most expensive boutiques from the most famous fashion houses. Shopping here is considered a special art. In addition, while shopping, you can consider all the newfangled directions, admire the magnificent showcases that Italians know how to decorate, and also get ideas for creating a new image for yourself.
Also, the most expensive boutiques representing Valentine, Doice & Gabbana, Armani and other global brands are located on Borgognona, Frattina, Gregoriana and Sistina streets.
But all this applies to those who can afford luxury shopping. But for the rest of tourists and residents of Italy, the main shopping street of Rome, Via del Corso, is more suitable. Its boutiques are known for their affordable prices.
Another famous shopaholic place is Via Nazionale, both sides of which are densely dotted with shops with the names of Giess, Max Mara, Falco, Francesco Biasia and others. Separately, it is worth noting the Elena Miro boutique, which specializes in clothing for overweight people.
But youth clothing should be purchased near the Campo di Fiori square, where you can immediately pick up all the necessary accessories for it.
When you reach Ottaviano metro station, go out onto Via Cola di Rienzo, where you can pick up a high-quality original bag or shoes at an affordable price. This street is also famous for its jewelry boutiques.
Shopping in Milan
You should start shopping in Milan from Piazza Duomo, where a large number of shops with very real and affordable prices are concentrated.
Cherze's Arc de Triomphe can be reached in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II passage, which is two hundred meters long. It is crowned with a huge glass dome, so it is pleasant to walk and shop here in any weather.
Inside, the gallery is adorned with African, Asian, European and American frescoes, marble, and art paintings. And along the aisle there are 24 statues of famous Italian figures, including Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Volt and others.
Separately, it is worth noting the design of the pavement, which is the coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty of monarchs. It looks like a white cross, located on a red background, on the sides of which are depicted the symbols of the four main cities of Italy.
This gallery houses shops of fashionable exquisite clothing, leather and fur products, jewelry and book salons. In the passage you can not only buy something interesting for yourself, but also sit at a table in one of the cafes or restaurants, admire the interior of the room, the works of art displayed here at exhibitions, listen to live music or just chat, as many residents of Milan do. But if time is limited, then from the passage it is worth moving on to Via Montenapoleone, where the shops of many trendsetters are located.
Such streets include Gesu, Borgospesso and Della Spiga. It is impossible to find collections of previous seasons here, because they are constantly updated. You can also be 100% sure of the authenticity of all products. Italians claim that it is impossible to find a fake in Milan.
For budget purchases, you should choose the department stores La Rinascente, Upim, 10 Corso Como and others.
The biggest sales take place in the middle of winter and summer. Interestingly, the official deadlines are set by the government, and they can change slightly every year. Therefore, when traveling to Italy, it is worth clarifying their exact date.
You can find out the percentage of the discount even without going to the boutique, as they are displayed in the shop windows and can range from 30 to 80%. Of course, purchases at this time are accompanied by massive influx of customers and police guards at the entrance.
On sales, you can buy not only items from exclusive collections of fashion houses, but also jewelry, interior decor items, dishes, bed linen and even antiques.
Speaking of shopping, most often it means purchasing things. But do not forget about food products, the quality and quantity of which attracts many gourmets, who cannot but bring with them natural high-quality olive oil, real Parmesan cheese or Parma ham.
Italian shops have such a characteristic feature that those who put off shopping for the last day should be aware of. Sunday and first half of Monday are considered days off, on which only large shopping centers are open. Everything else, including grocery stores, is closed.
You also need to know that after the summer sale in mid-August, almost all companies, firms, small and large stores are closed for a two-week vacation. In addition, there are 11 national holidays, during which almost all establishments in the country do not work. The dates and dates of these vacations should also be checked with the tour operator before traveling to Italy.
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