Shopping in Rome

If you’re one shopaholic then you must know where to find everything from bargains to the top shops and from the latest to the antique collections. Rome isn’t just the home of Catholic fans but is also a home for the best finds in the land. One must take note of the store hours of every store since the store hours vary by the type of store.

Shops in Rome are generally open from 9am to 1pm, 9:30am in the center of the city, and reopens from 4pm to 7:30pm.  There are however a few exceptions: I must break every shopaholic’s heart by saying that clothing stores in Rome are closed on Sunday and Monday mornings. I know it hurts it’s when you still have lots of money right? But then, they follow the general hours of opening and closing.

For those gluttons shopping their stomachs through Rome, food stores are open from 8am to 1pm and reopen from 5pm to 7:30pm. Sadly though, that on Sundays and Thursday afternoons, these gluttons must take a break since food stores are closed during these days, except during summer since they are close on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Vegetarians in Rome  must wake up early to catch the outdoor fresh vegetable markets such as Campo de’Fiori which is open from 7am to 2pm Mondays to Saturdays. Supermarkets on the other hand are 8am to 8pm all day, including Sundays.

Shoppers must consider the last two weeks of August as a summer holiday break for these shops as well as for their pockets.

If you’re looking for the best finds for clothes and the latest trends in Rome, you might want to try visiting the area between via del Corso and via del Babuino in the vicinity of the Spanish steps. Many of the posh shops and haute couture boutiques can be found in that area: those of Armani, Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, Bulgari Jewelers, Cartier Jewelers, Swatch, Mont Blanc and La Perla can be found in Via Condotti. Other shops you must check out at the side streets of Piazza Mignanelli, Piazza di Spagna, Via Borgognona,  Fontanella Borghese, Via del Babuino and places surrounding the vicinity.

One top shop of hats that has a significant collection of hats worn by famous people such as Mussolini and Trilussa can be found at 7 Via Minghetti, the Fratelli Vigano men’s shop which dates back its existence back to 1873.

For those shoppers who would want to stick to a strict budget, Rome offers the lower cost clothing shops. You’ll find these budget friendly yet trendy stores near the Vatican centered on Via Cola de Rienzo and Via Ottaviano.

Cookware and kitchen wares are also very much affordable and available in Rome. You can check out C.U.C.I.N.A. at 65 Via Mario de’ Fiori for kitchenware and cookware that you might ever need and ‘Gusto at 7 Piazza Augusto Imperatore for cookbooks that will offer a variety of recipes that will surely satisfy your taste.

There are still a lot to see and a number of shops to go to in Rome. Just be ready to walk and have your feet sore as you empty your pockets in one shopping getaway of a lifetime!

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