| Shopping in
Venice can be a dream or a nightmare. Before you begin, consider
if you plan to visit other major cities, such as Rome or Florence.
Generally speaking, leathers and other items can be purchased much cheaper
in other cities. If however, you are only visiting Venice,
then you will need to know the best shops to visit.
The most famous shopping
area in Venice is the Mercerie. The Merceris is a
set of narrow streets linking St. Mark’s Square and Rialto. You can find
everything from designer clothing, to glass products, handbags, shoes,
linens, and books in this area. However, for the best selection of glass
pieces and lace, you should consider taking a boat to the Murano and Burano
islands. You can find glass pieces ranging from chandeliers to jewelry
here.
Shops around
Venice are filled with carnival masks and hand painted fabrics.
Designers like Versace, Armani, and Valentino, to name a few, have shops
in Venice. There are also specialty stores that sell unique
clothing such as gondolier’s uniforms.
If you are looking for a bargain
shopping experience, look for the Campo San Maurizio flea market. Food
shops are also bountiful in Venice, and offer everything from fresh
fish to locally grown vegetables. The fish market is located under the
arches along the Rialto Bridge and is open early most days of the week.
Keep in mind that most of the smaller shops in Venice will close for approximately
three hours in the afternoon, however, larger stores normally stay open
all day. Sales tax in Venice is between 12% and 14%, depending on
your purchase.
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