Shopping in Rome

Rome can be said to be built on world trade. Many goods traveled to and from Rome and that is one of the reasons that all roads lead to Rome. This shopping tradition continues on today. However for the budget conscious Rome is not the best place to shop as it is more expensive then Milan or Florence.

There are four major retail networks in Rome and these are La Standa, Upini, Coin and La Rinascenta. La Standa deparment stores have the reputation as being the cheapest of the four and La Rinascenta is the most expensive of the lot so plan accordingly. You can always find goods of the most outstanding quality in these department stores however if you want to save a little money it is a good idea to hit some of the smaller shops in the area.

The most expensive streets to shop in Rome are Sistina, Gregoriana, Frattina and Borgognona where stores such as Armani, Gianfranco Ferre, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentine, Rocco Barocco andTrussardi are usually found. However if you are looking to negotiate or find a bargein on any of these streets do not bother as you simply will not be taken seriously.

The central shopping district for the entire city of Rome is Via del Corso and many of the common brands that you will find in America can also be found here as well. To continue your shopping experience you should also check out Via del Tritone, Via Barberinini, Via Vittoria, Via Nazionale and Via Cola di Rienzo as many of these streets are shopping havens.

If you are looking for a bargain then be sure to check out the shops near the Termini station as the people who live around that area are not the richest and the shops cater to the locals more then the tourists. I am sure you will find a bargain in this area. A note of caution though is that this area is frequented by beggars and thieves so always be careful and do not travel alone or at nighttime when you can get easily disoriented.

A great place to find whatever you may be looking for is the Rome flea market which takes place at Mercato delle Puici and is only open on Sunday mornings so this option is not the best for the hurried tourist or traveler that is just passing through.

The most shopped for items in Italy are leather goods and men and women’s clothing. Designer goods of Italian origin are not cheap but they are the cheapest in Italy and if you can find a good discount store you might walk away with a bargain. Shopping can be a fun way to spend part of your vacation. Just keep in mind that it is always best to keep safe in this city and keep watch of those around you because where ever there are tourists there are sure to be thieves and beggars.