Venice Shopping Tips by tpal

Don't hesitate! Venetian Masks (carnival etc) Review

I had to have a Venetian mask but not from some touristy shop. It needed to have a personal touch. As I walked down a previously unexplored calle, I spotted an elderly woman, hand painting a mask in her shop. She was wonderful and so were her masks. Suddenly, there it was. The one for me. But, ahead of me was a full day of walking and discovery. "I'll be back later." Later I retraced my steps. Along that canal, left at that church, across the bridge, right at the cafe and there it is . . . not? Nothing! Day two another search and nothing. Ready, to give up on day three, same route and there it was! What happened? Turns out the shops were closed but more than that, they had pulled down overhead doors and made themselves disappear completely. So if you see it and you want it . . . go for it!

What to pay: I paid about $60.00 for this mask in 1998.

Theme: Local Craft