Venetians are well aware of the city past and the value of its antiquities and they are tremendous collectors and vendors. Antique shops can be found everywhere, but the best ones are in the San Marco area. In Campo San Maurizio occasional flea markets are held (especially at Easter and at All Saints' Day) where the tourist can find reasonably priced books, paintings and bric-à-brac.
Venice lives on tourism, so you can expect to find a lot of interesting items to take home. Glass is probably the most traded item, but beware that many cheap souvenirs are mass produced in Taiwan. Authentic Venetian hand-made products come with a certificate of authenticity.
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There are two major department stores, Standa (Cannaregio 3659, tel 041/523 6970) and Coin (Cannaregio 5787, tel 041/520 3581), while the best road for buying clothes and shoes is Mercerie, which runs from Rialto to San Marco. The majority of haute-couture shops are here, although a few are located elsewhere like Missoni (Calle Vallaresso, San Marco 1312, tel 041/520 5733), Valentino (Salizzada San Moisé, San Marco 1473, tel 041/520 5733), Laura Biagiotti (calle Larga XXII Marzo, San Marco 2400a, tel 041/520 3401) and Emporio Armani (Calle dei Fabbri, San Marco 989, tel 041/522 3020). There are two supermarkets, Billa (Dorsoduro 1491, Zattere, tel 041/522 6187, open seven days a week) and Coop (calle dell'Olio, Giudecca 484, tel 041/241 3381). A small shop for traditional groceries, cold meats and cheeses from across Italy is Aliani (ruga Rialto/ruga Vecchia San Giovanni, San Polo 654-5, tel 041/522 4913). The wine conoisseur should head to Bottiglieria Colonna (calle della Fava, Castello 5595, tel 041/528 5137); helpful staff will give you advice on regional wines and shipping. Another shop worth mentioning is Vinaria Nave de Oro (campo Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro 3664, tel 041/522 2693) where you can bring your own empty bottles to be filled with your preferred wine. The healthy conscious should pay a visit to Rialto Bio Center (campo Beccaria, San Polo 366, tel 041/523 9515) where wholewheat pasta, honey, natural cosmetics and incense are stocked. Do you have a weakness for sweets and cakes? Your wildest dreams will be fulfilled at Pasticceria Marchini, (Ponte S. Maurizio, San Marco 2769, tel 041/522 9109). It is open 9am - 10pm, Mon - Sat and accepts all major credit cards. There is no escape! Another shop worth mentioning is Vizio Virtú Cioccolateria (San Polo 2898/A, tel 041/275 0149)... and you can order your favourites online. |
Francesco da Mosto's story of Venice. |
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A word of advice: there are individuals of dubious legal status plying their trade along Calle XXII Marzo and St. Mark's Square. Apart from being a nuisance, their products (such as the famous Louis Vuitton bags) are counterfeit and of unknown origins and the temptation of buying anything should be avoided, not only because it encourages their illegal activities, but also because your goods can be confiscated by police officers.
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Opening hours and credit cards |
Some links of Venetian shops on the web: |