At first glance, you may wonder where to start when it comes to shopping in a big, chaotic city like Rome. In fact the city is a more appealing shopping experience than you might think, abounding with pleasant shopping streets and colourful markets, most of which are in the city centre. Many shopping areas have been pedestrianized, and, perhaps best of all, the city hasn't yet been entirely overrun by department stores and shopping malls, or by the international chain stores that characterize most European city centres. One-stop shopping opportunities are rare, but you will find corners of the city that have been colonized by stores featuring the same sort of merchandise - fashion, antiques, food - making it easy for you to check out the competition's products and prices. You will also find true artisans in Rome, who take great pride in their crafts.
You can find the best of Italy in Rome. Fashion straight from the catwalk is well represented on the fashionable streets close to the Spanish Steps - Via Condotti, Via Borgognona , and Via Frattina - where you'll find chic boutiques like Gucci, Prada and Valentino. If you want to do more than window-shop, head to Via del Tritone , Via Nazionale , below piazza della Repubblica, or Via Cola di Rienzo , near the Vatican, for more middle-range and affordable fashion. The stores on and around Via del Corso are a mixture, selling mainstream, and fairly youth-orientated, fashions, while Via Veneto , off Piazza Barberini, caters to those who were youthful when Fellini's La Dolce Vita opened, and are now the fashionably well-off patrons of the street's expensive leather shops and boutiques.
Antiques shops - a huge selection - line Via dei Coronari and neighbouring Via dell'Orso and Via dei Soldati , just north of Piazza Navona; Via Giulia , southwest of Campo dei Fiori, and Via del Babuino and Via Margutta , between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, are also good sources of art and antiques. As for food , if you want to take home a bottle of extra virgin olive oil or some vacuum-packed porcini mushrooms, end your day visiting the food shops and markets around Campo de' Fiori or Via Cola di Rienzo across the river.
The city's many markets offer a change of pace from Rome's busy shopping streets. Many of these are bustling local food markets, and, even in the centre, are still very much part of Roman life. The Campo de' Fiori market is probably the most central of these. Otherwise there's Trastevere's Porta Portese flea market, a venue for antiques, clothing, books, and indeed virtually anything else, every Sunday morning.
These days some shops in the centre of Rome stay open all day. However, many still observe the city's traditional hours - Monday 3.30-7.30pm, Tuesday-Saturday 9.30am-1.30pm & 3.30-7.30pm, and closed on Sunday. Food shops are also often closed on Thursday afternoon in the winter and Saturday afternoon during the summer; and most shops close for at least two weeks in summer, usually in August. Most places accept all major credit cards .
Antiques
Antichità
Via del Babuino 83 tel 06.320.7585. Mon 3.30-7pm, Tues-Sat 9am-1pm tel 3.30-7.30pm.
One of the several fine antique stores in the area, with a large collection of stunning Italian furnishings from the 1700s.
Bookstores
Anglo-American Bookstore
Via delle Vite 102 tel 06.679.5222. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat 9am-1pm & 3.30-7.30pm.
Large selection of new English books on every subject, including textbooks for university students.
Clothing and accessories
Davide Cenci
Via di Campo Marzio 1/7 tel 06.699.0681. Mon 4-7.30pm, Tues-Fri 9.30am-1.30pm & 3.30pm-7.30pm, Sat 10am-7.30pm.
An exclusive clothing shop that has been offering conservative high-quality fashion to men, women and children for
Department stores
COIN
Via Cola do Rienzo 173 tel 06.324.3319; Piazza Appio 7 tel 06.708.0020; Via Mantova 1B tel 06.841.6279. Mon 3.30-8pm, Tues-Sat 9.30am-1.30pm & 3.30-8pm.
Inexpensive clothes, accessories, and a great place to find cheap
Food and wine
Buccone
Via di Ripetta 19 tel 06.361.2154. Mon-Tues 9am-8.30pm, Wed-Sat 9am-midnight, Sun 10am-7.30pm.
Every alcoholic beverage you could dream of, with a large selection of wines from all over the world, spirits, even ten-litre
Gifts, crafts, household goods
Art'e
Piazza Rondanini 32 tel 06.683.3907. Mon 1-7.30pm, Tues-Sat 9.30am-7.30pm.
Ultramodern kitchenware and home furnishings, including lamps, clocks and kitchen utensils and appliances in flashy neon colours and shiny stainless steel. The perfect stylish
Music
Metropoli Rock
Via Cavour 72 tel 06.488.0443. Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 4-8pm.
The place to come if you are looking for old and out-of-print recordings - whether it's classical, rock, or jazz. Two floors stocked
Markets
Borghetto Flaminio
Piazza della Marina 32. Sept-June Sun 10am-7pm; entrance L3000.
A partly covered flea market with plenty of knick-knacks, designer clothing and antiques. Rummage alongside Rome's upper classes and celebrities - Cher was
Food markets
Rome's food markets are a perfect place to stop to pick up a snack or picnic provisions.
The one on Piazza di Campo de' Fiori is the city's
