Page 608 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

606  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPPING IN ITALY

Italy is known for its quality designer goods, for bargains, but there’s plenty to look at
ranging from chic clothing and sleek cars to even for those not planning to buy. If you
stylish household items. There is a strong come from outside the European Union,
tradition of craftsmanship, often from family- you may be able to claim back the 21 per
run businesses, and there are numerous cent IVA tax (VAT). Make sure you leave
markets selling regional specialities. Apart time at your departure airport to fulfil all
from the town markets, it is not a country administrative requirements.

products generally have fresher
and cheaper produce than the
shops. Bargaining is not usual
when buying food, but it is
worth asking for a discount
(sconto) for clothes.

Seasonal Produce
To make the most of Italian food,
try to buy and eat what is in
season. Grapes and mushrooms
are best in autumn, whereas
spring is the season for asparagus
Fresh vegetables on display at a Venetian market stall and strawberries. In winter,
vegetables such as Roman
head for the enoteca, vineria artichokes, cauliflower and
Opening Hours or vinaio, where you can broccoli are at their best, as are
Opening times for shops are sometimes taste the wine lemons from Amalfi and Sicilian
usually 9:30am–1pm and around before purchasing. blood oranges. Summer is the
3:30–8pm, Tuesday to Saturday time for plums, pears and
and Monday afternoons. cherries, as well as courgettes,
However, shopkeepers are Markets aubergines, tomatoes and melon.
increasingly using more flexible All towns have regional weekly
hours. There are few department markets. Large towns will have Clothes and Designer
stores, but most large towns will several small daily markets
have a Standa, Upim, Coin or followed by a weekly flea Shops
Rinascente. These stores are often market, usually on Sunday. In Italy is renowned worldwide for
open nonstop (orario continuato) this guide the main market days its fashion industry. Milan is the
from 9am to 8pm, Monday to are listed under each town. fashion capital and Via Monte
Saturday. Music and bookshops Traders set up at 5am and start Napoleone, in the city centre, is
sometimes stay open after 8pm to clear away at about 1:30pm. lined with designer boutiques.
and on Sundays. Food is sold by the etto (100 All large towns will have a
grams) and the chilo (kilo) (see selection of designer shops,
p617), or in numbers (two onions, usually situated near each other.
Food Shops etc). Food stalls selling seasonal Less expensive clothes are
Even though there are super­
markets throughout Italy, the
specialist shops, although more
expensive, are still the most
interesting way to shop. A forno
has the best bread and a
macellaio has the finest meat
(go to a norcineria for pork
products). Vegetables are
freshest from market stalls or
the fruttivendolo. You can buy
cakes at the pasticceria, milk at
the latteria, and pasta, ham,
cheese and general foods at the
often impressively stocked
alimentari. Here you can also
buy wine, but for a wider choice Souvenir shop in Ostuni, near Brindisi, Puglia

606-607_EW_Italy.indd 606 4/5/17 10:42 AM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.1)
Date 13th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm