Page 328 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

326  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS
STORES AND MARKETS

Rome has been a thriving center for their luxuriously chic style in fashion,
design and cosmopolitan shopping knitwear, and leather goods (especially
since ancient times. In the heyday of the shoes and purses) as well as in interior
Empire, the finest craftsmen were drawn design, fabrics, ceramics, and glass.
to Rome, and artifacts and products of The artisan tradition is strong and
all kinds, including gold, furs, and wine the love of good design filters through
were imported from far-flung corners into the smallest items. Rome is not
of the Empire to service the needs of the a city for bargains (although there are
wealthy Roman population. Shopping often better buys here than Florence
in Rome today in many ways reflects or Milan), but the joys of window
this diverse tradition. Italian designers shopping here will offer plenty
have an international repu tation for of compensation.
Best Buys half, but their clothes are still
Leather goods of all kinds, very expensive even then. Good
including shoes and purses, are bargains can be found in the
a strong point. Ready-to-wear young designer-wear stores
Italian designer clothes are not (see p331) and good-quality
cheap, but they are certainly small and large shoe sizes are
less expensive than in other sold off very cheaply. In general,
countries. Armani jeans are a though, sales in Rome tend to
good example (see p331). You offer moderate rather than
are also likely to find designer huge discounts.
lighting fixtures, for example, at Both the original, and the
lower prices here. Both modern, sale price should be marked on
and traditional Italian ceramics each reduced item. Liquidazioni
and handicrafts can be very (closing-down sales) are usually
beautifully made, and, if you genuine and can sometimes be
have time to wander around worth investigating. However,
the back streets, really unusual other signs in store windows
and individual gifts can often such as vendite promozionali
be found. (special introductory prices) Antiques at Acanto (see p340)
and sconti (discounts) are often
only lures to get you into the to 7:30pm (4pm to 8pm in
Sales
store. The sign on the door the summer months). Most
Bargain hunters may like to saying entrata libera means downtown stores stay open
visit Rome during sale time “browsers welcome.” all day from 10am to 7:30pm.
(saldi), from mid-July to mid- Most stores are closed on
September and the period from When to Shop Sunday (except just before
just after Christmas to the first Christmas). Stores are also closed
week in March. Top designers Stores are generally open from on Monday morning, aside from
(see p330) can slash prices by 9am to 1pm and from 3:30pm most food stores, which close
on Thursday afternoons in
winter, and Saturday afternoons
in high summer.
August brings the city to
a virtual standstill as Roman
families flee the heat to the sea
or the mountains, but this is
gradually changing, with
Romans taking shorter summer
vacations. Most stores close for
at least two weeks around
August 15, the national holiday.
Shopping Etiquette
Aside from a few department
Flower sellers in Piazza Campo de’ Fiori (see p344) stores, most Roman stores are

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Directory Listing template (Source v1) “UK” LAYER
Date 9th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm