bargains in Italy?

[kaygela]

I'm going to Sorrento, Rome, Florence and Venice in 2 weeks. I know that our dollar isn't what it used to be there but I still intend to do alot of shopping. I was wondering if anyone knows good places with good prices for leather handbags, jewelry and glass? I know some of the less "touristy" places would most likely have better prices, but I've never been there before and don't wnat to waste too much time.

 

[goudaman40]

First of all . . . congrats - you will love Italy.

There is a little town around Sorrento & Solerno (sp.) called Vietri that is known for it's pottery. Great Vase, Plates (complete place settings) etc. that is really reasonible.

We traveled from Rome down the Amalfi Coast Line to Sorrento and just enjoyed it. Beautiful country. Also, you want to look for Moreno (sp) glass scluptures. There is a school around there that makes it on premises while you watch.

Also, Capodomonti flowers are really reasonible and beautiful. We had an artist make them in front of us and it was amazing. In Naples is a Cameo factory, that you can get Cameo's really cheap.

Also, ask where the Navy housing is in Naples (just a little south of the Holiday Inn Resort in Castle Voltoreno) and you will find Dom Pereion (sp.) champagne at cost. Back in 97 they were selling bottles for $10 each.

Enjoy all of the house wines (you've never tasted sweeter wine) and the Lemonchello Liquor. You will be amazed by the sights . . . there was a little restaurant right outside the Pompeii ruins that had a great house wine. Also remember to order Aqua Natural (if you order plane Aqua you will get seltzer water).

If you have any other questions, pm me.

 

[BriarRose59]

kaygela:

We are going to Italy this summer! Please let me know how it goes. We are starting in Sorrento then going to Rome, Torgiano, Tirrenia (Tuscany area), Cinque Terre region, Florence and finally Venice. I would love to hear about your trip when you return.

Have a safe trip and lots of fun!

 

[Carl]

Let me know too. I'm going in June this summer. Not going very far south though - just to Venice and a few other cities in that general area.

 

[tiggerlover]

The best bargains to be had are in the open air markets and remember to bargain!!! The vendor may not want to at first, but if you are persistant they will give you a deal. In Rome there is a market on Sunday's that are all hand bags, they try to get over on the tourists, but persistance pays off. A friend of mine bought 4 leather (knock off) Prada and Guicci bags, they were really good imitations and the vendor wanted 60 euro a piece and my friend ended up getting them for 15 euro each. Before you ask the price I would decide what price you are willing to pay and then go from there. If the guy says 50 euro you may say I will give you 25 and then he may say 45 and so on and so forth. Don't be afraid to walk away, I have seen many vendors running after folks after they have walked away and then offering them what the patron asked for. You can always come back later if you decide you have to have that bag. Also, many vendors will have the same thing. I have gotten some nice leather bags this way. I haven't bought any of the knock offs, but word of advice if you are looking at knock offs, always look inside at the lining some are better than others and you want to avoid the ones that say made in China as they fall apart easily (as per friends that have bought them). Florence has a leather market too, but again beware of the made in China stuff.


Remember, sconto = discount in Italian.

 

[Mamu]

Have a wonderful trip. I agree the open air markets are the best places to find good prices, barter, barter, barter.

I was there in 2001 and again in 2003. The euro has made a big difference in what you get for your dollar.

Florence has lots of outdoor markets selling leather, I think most of it comes from Turkey. If you want Italian Leather expect to pay. I could purchase lots of leather items for the same prices I could here in the USA. Now if you want a Gucci or Prada bag, you need to shop in the specialty shops, there are fakes everywhere in Italy, so if you want the real thing you need to shop in these shops. Example: Prada and Gucci Bags start around $400.00, you get your duty free tax back. When you subtract the tax your getting the bag for $300 and something. Good deal but at these prices I didn't take back as much as I'd like.

I did find some good prices on jewerly on the back streets in little shops, but you work to find them. You need more then a couple of days to find deals.

As far as Venice goes everything was expensive, very few deals here. The Murano glass is beautiful, but again expect to pay for the real thing. As far as the mask go, mass produced somewhere. Again if you want the real thing find a little shop where there painting them. Yes you'll pay more.

Found no deals in Rome. Lots of venders with there hobo sheets set-up on the road to the Vatican, they are selling repro's that are pretty good.

It comes down to if you don't mind getting repro's there are great deals, but if you want the real thing you will have to pay, not to many deals here.

 

[kaygela]

Thank you everyone for posting. The open air markets sound like fun. I hope that I can get to at least one. The handbags don't have to be Prada or Gucci, I'd just like a nice quality leather bag to bring home. Anyway, I'll post info about the trip when we return home for all you other people traveling there soon.