Cashmere sweaters 58 Euro - ITALIAN and other Rome, Italy Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Ivy Oxford

We pass this shop often as it is just down Via due Macelli from the Spanish Steps. We always see excellent prices posted on items and a tasteful display of men's clothing at exceptionally reasonable prices. We especially like that the items are Made in ITALY (not Hong Kong).
Photo - 58 Euro Cashmere sweaters

What To Buy: 58 Euro cashmere sweaters - made in ITALY!

What To Pay: reasonable

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Theme: Men's Clothes
Address: Via Due Macelli 98
Directions: Spanish Steps

Name of Shop: Capri

An entire window filled with Absinthe and the paraphanelia attendant to its ritual beckons to the curious tourist. He hesitates, capitavated - looks about to see who might be watching - and bolts through the door!

Dubbed "the green fairy" it is an emerald color - distilled, highly alcoholic, anise-flavored spirit derived from herbs, flowers and medicinal leaves of Artemisia absinthium (wormwood).

Absintheurs typically add water to a dose of absinthe, which causes the drink to turn cloudy (called “louching”) - the same delightful metamorphosis happens when you add water to Pernod and it turns a bright, foggy chartreuse.

My introduction to absinthe was, indeed, a ritual. Once the absinthe was poured into a lovely stemmed glass, a slotted spoon was placed across the mouth of the glass - a small sugar cube placed on the spoon - absinthe poured over the sugar - the cube of sugar set aflame - and as it melted into the absinthe below, a little ice water was added. My taste buds were enchanted!

The ritual complete with special slotted absinthe spoons and other accoutrements is essential to the experience of drinking absinthe. The flavor is similar to anise-flavored liqueurs. If you like Pernod - you will love Absinthe!

Although it originated in Switzerland as an elixir, it is associated with France and Parisian artists and writers whose romantic link to the drink still lingers in pop culture. You will see a brand in the shop, Capri, with a portrait of Van Gogh. Was he an Absintheur, perhaps? At one time absinthe was portrayed as a dangerously addictive, psychoactive drug due to the chemical thujone. (Not my experience!)

By 1915 it was banned in a number of European countries and the United States. Even though it was vilified, no evidence shows it to be any more dangerous than ordinary alcohol although few modern medical studies have been completed. A modern absinthe revival began in the 1990s, as countries in the European Union began to reauthorize its manufacture and sale.

What To Buy: Absinthe - they say they can send it to you in the U.S. but you cannot send it to yourself.

What To Pay: A nice gift package - Absinthe, spoon, glass - costs 60 to 80 Euro

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Theme: Food and Drink
Phone: 06.428.23750
Address: Via del Traforo, 154
Directions: Just South of Piazza Barberini - East of Spanish Steps - right before the tunnel

Name of Shop: La Feltrinelli

This just happens to be my personal favorite here in Rome as it was in Milano - primarily due to the personal assistance rendered by the staff here - perhaps it also has to do with finding the little hardcover, elasticized, pocket notebook indispensable to many writers - the "Hemingway notepad" as it is sometimes called. Load up when you find them as they are not so easy to get - perfect size for waist pouch. Photo 3. You will find foreign books in 60 languages (including English), books for kids, computers, didactic, dictionaries, eastern philosophies. The staff here will find the book you want - if not in their particular shop, they will search other Feltrinelli shops to see where it might be available for you. They treat you as if you were a permanent privileged client - not a transient tourist. They had no way to know that I do, in fact, reside in Rome and am not a tourist.

Check back for photos...........

What To Buy: Books in your choice of 60 languages.


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Theme: Books
Phone: 39.06.36001873
Address: Galleria Alberto Sordi
Directions: Via Alberto Sordi and Via del Corso

Name of Shop: Books

There is a whole little row of street-vendor type book stalls right at Piazza Republica at Termini. Salvatore is my favorite seller there and I stop by every chance I get. He always has something new and now knows what I like - here he found Rafaele books I had been looking for and kept them for me. All the seller here carry Italian language books - the art books are incredible and great bargains. Salvatore and the larger stall up toward Termini are the best of the lot.

What To Buy: Art books at great prices

What To Pay: They will all work with you on prices

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Theme: Books
Address: Piazza della Republica
Directions: Termini Station

Name of Shop: ArcheoArt

Marco says that he maintains a laboratory for the reproduction of archeological artifacts. They are quite good - many excellent marble/alabaster statues, both large and small. Lots of Gladiator artifacts that look as if they could be or could have been cinema props. Excellent array of reproduced ancient jewelry. Very entertaining!

What To Buy: Reproductions of Roman artifacts - Jewelry especially

What To Pay: Negotiate with Marco Bocchio - always ask for the tax to be deducted over 155 €

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Theme: Art
Phone: 00830360566
Address: Via del Teatro di Marcello, 12
Directions: Forum area
Website: www.marcobocchio.com

Name of Shop: Shopping Mall - Rome style

You can find almost everything here - clothing, stationery, Lundt chocolate shop, music, books -- and on a sweltering Rome day, the air conditioning alone beckons to you if you are anywhere near the entrance. The Galleria Alberto Sordi was built in 1914 on the former Palazzo Piombino and is named after the famous Italian actor who died during the year before it re-opened, honoring his name. The arcade facility is located right in front of the column of emperor Marcus Aurelius. The arcade had always been one of the city's strategic meeting places. Obscure actors were know to gather here during the first half of the 20th century in hopes of securing an engagement. For 20 years arcade had gradually fallen into decay and became an abandoned place where the homeless spent the night. Its revival and reopening in 2003 permitted two generations of roman people to step into the former Galleria Colonna for the first time in their life.

For those who are familiar with Milano, you might say it is reminiscent of the Milano Galleria - only on a much smaller scale - perhaps it is the glass ceiling.

The lovely stained glass ceiling is complimented by a centrally located bar and cafe where you can leisurely await the final hour(s) of your companion's shopping sprees.

What To Buy: Almost anything - always check tags for "Made in Italy" as there is so much now that is "made in China"

What To Pay: From average prices to slightly more expensive than the off-Corso shops.

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Theme: Other
Address: Via Alberto Sordi
Directions: To the left at the end of Via del Corso

Name of Shop: Bartolucci

This is just an amazing shop close to the Pantheon. These charming items are the result of a patient manual labor - made of pinewood - designed and created by the Bortolucci family - Francesco, Matteo, Chiara, and Anna. The photos do not do justice to the great detail. For more than 60 years, three generations of Bartolucci's family are united by a common passion: the art of working wood. The firm Bartolucci started the enterprise producing accordions in 1936. Four brothers worked there: Leopoldo, Ernesto, Silvio and Matteo Bartolucci.
After different productions (furniture, old fashioned furniture...), in 1981 Francesco, Chiara and Annamaria, Matteo's son and two daughters started the present production of wooden ware.



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Theme: Toys and Games
Phone: 06 69.190.894
Address: Via dei Pastini 98
Directions: Close to the Pantheon - across from the Mask shop and the 100 flavors Gelati
Website: www.bartolucci

Name of Shop: La Maschera

This is a small shop - right across from Bartolucci's wood working shop and close to the Pantheon. The owner is most accommodating and has a great number of fascinating masks to choose from.

What To Buy: Fantastic Masks


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Theme: Other
Phone: 06 67.89.667
Address: Via della Guglia 69
Directions: Pantheon area

Name of Shop: Porta Portese outdoor market

SUNDAY ONLY The particular "type" for this shopping tip is catagory "other" because it is "all of the above" - books, clothing jewelry, toys/games, bath and beauty, etc. This is a huge flea market - most items are from India, China, Africa - some Italian second-hand goods. This market has become increasingly ridden with junk - however, you CAN find good things if you have the time to get through all the other stuff. Last visit I bought 100% linen pants for 50 cents € as I stopped by when most sellers had already closed up and were driving out. WATCH YOUR WALLET/PURSE here - I only go here with the waist pouch.

What To Buy: You must be very discerning and carefully choose good bargains among all the junk - which you CAN find.

What To Pay: Barter - they will take MUCH less rather than pack things up to re-load on their trucks if you are there around 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.

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Theme: Other
Address: Porta Portese Piazza, Trastevere
Directions: 1st bus stop after crossing the Tevere into Trastevere.
Many buses going to Trasteere but I know the #3 that says "Trastevere" goes there.

Tourists in Italy arriving from outside the European Community are entitled to the refund of I.V.A. (Value Added Tax) which ranges from 12 to 35% on amounts exceeding 155,00 euro spent in the same shop. To enjoy this benefit it is necessary to apply to shops that have an agreement - Tax Free, Italy Free Shopping, Tax Free System, Euro Tax, Tax Refund posted in their window and/or inside. The refund can be obtained inside the shops with the proper sign - or at Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport of Fiumicino in the Customs Office or by post. Items must be new, in original boxes, and you must have all receipts. Go early to the airport if you intend to complete the procedure there.

I'm updating this tip with the following information from a visitor to my pages indicating that he has used this tax free service in Italy and they were very efficient:
www.premiertaxfree.com

Happy shopping in bella Italia.................



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Theme: Other
Website: www.premiertaxfree.com