Released on: November 22, 2007, 6:35 pm

Press Release Author: Alistair White

Industry: Consumer Services

Press Release Summary: Shopping in Italy is a wonderful adventure. From the elegant
hush of designer boutiques to the raucous bedlam of a flea market, it\'s an
experience you\'ll never forget. And you might even make some good purchases. Here\'s
the lowdown on the shopping scenes in Rome and Venice.

Press Release Body: Shopping In Italy

Italy\'s hottest shopping draw is of course fashion. Milan is home of the country\'s
fashion industry, but Rome is the main Italian bazaar where the threads are put on
the market. Here you can find the ultra chic garments of celebrated designers
numbering in the hundreds. Quality is very high and the range of materials includes
leather, cotton, silk and wool.

Other than garments, Italy is pre-eminent in the production of quality glassware,
furniture, jewellery and porcelain goods.

Shopping In Rome

While Rome is overrun with international fashion boutiques, shopping in the Eternal
City can still offer its own very Roman flavour. For the ultimate in windows
shopping, the area around via Condotti at the foot of the Spanish Steps is the place
to go. You can gaze at the creations of Armani, Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana,
Gucci and the other grand names in the elegant windows under the baroque or
neoclassical facades. But remember that rents in Rome are sky high and so are the
prices.

For antiques, head to Via dei Coronari. It\'s a narrow pedestrianised street near
Piazza Navona. The 500-meter long thoroughfare is lined with antique stores and
galleries.

For the true Roman experience, you have to visit one of the city\'s many markets. The
Sunday morning flea market at Porta Portese is an overcrowded event where you can
buy almost anything. It\'s held on via Portuense south of the Porta Portese gate.
Beware of pickpockets.

From Monday to Saturday, the morning market is in via Sannio, just outside the Roman
walls by San Giovanni in Laterano. Here you can browse huge volumes of cheap
clothes.
Shopping In Venice
Venice has long been a place of trade and remains a busy retail center. Though the
big name fashion houses are well-represented, the joy of shopping in Venice lies in
hunting down those local novelty items that evoke the spirit of La Serenissima.

However if it\'s brand name fashions you\'re after, Venice won\'t disappoint. The
island\'s busiest shopping strip is the Merceri. It runs all the ways from the
Piazza to the Rialto Bridge and almost all the celebrated Italian labels have
boutiques here.

For other items, Calle della Mandola is the place to browse books and glass beads.
And Campo Santo Stefano is the square for antique hunting. However, you can\'t leave
Venice without getting a souvenir carnival mask.

Carnival is the great event held every February but the masks are manufactured as
souvenirs all year-round in Venice\'s small workshops. You can get everything from
full size porcelain masks with a hefty price tag to inexpensive ornaments such as
silver earrings in the shape of carnival masks.

The other great specialty of Venice is glassware from the island of Murano. These
include such items as vases, clocks and wine bottle caps. And you can also get
decorative items such as rings, bracelets or pendants made out of the delightful
colored glass. These can be very inexpensive and make great souvenirs of Venice.
Other delights special to Venice include porcelain dolls and Burano lace work.

Web Site: http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/Italy

Contact Details: cheaperuk@tbi.com.au