Helping travelers to Italy since 2008

Shopping in Rome, Italy
for souvenirs: what to buy now

Shopping in Rome Italy, for souvenirs:
what to buy now for adults

Shopping in Rome Italy

So you've had a great holiday in Rome and you want something to remember it by. The best souvenirs will be just that - the memories you make and perhaps the photos you take, but if you want to take some more tangible reminders of Rome, here are our suggestions.

Clothes :  Italy is a very fashion conscious country. For some real style, have a look at the shops on the exclusive Via Condotti near the Spanish Steps.

But clothing in Italy is expensive, so what to buy now there's a credit crunch on if your budget won't stretch to a full outfit? 

Italian silk scarves are always a good buy. You'll find them at any of the larger Rome shops and on Roman market stalls.

Choose from beautiful, patterned, light silk scarves or the larger, delicate pashmina wool wraps.

Bags and shoes :  Italian shops selling shoes are a delight. They're extremely good value and you'll find assistants in shoe shops very helpful.

Leather bags are also a good buy; beware the street traders selling 'Gucci' bags for €15 though. If haggling is one of your favourite things to do in Rome you can get them at a reasonable price and they're actually good reproductions - but designer they are not!

Jewellery :  Italy has a long history of jewellery design dating back to the beautiful filigree gold work of Ancient Roman jewellery and, if you can afford it, gold jewellery is well worth buying; the designs are always elegant and individual.  

Or, if you're shopping on a budget, look out for hand-made costume jewellery.  The best source is often the stands in local street markets - this page about Roman markets has more information.

Shopping In Rome Italy

Glass : Murano glass, although made in Venice, is available to buy not just in Rome shops but all over Italy. But do make sure it's the real thing - there are a lot of cheap imitations out there. All genuine Murano ware, no matter how small, comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Food : Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, chocolates - if you love Italian food you'll find these readily available all over Rome. Try the shops in the small side streets near the Trevi Fountain and use this link to have a look at our recommendation about one of the best Italian shops to buy chocolate in Rome.

There are no big supermarkets in the city centre, but next to the Hotel dei Borgognoni in the Via del Bufalo (close to the Spanish Steps) you'll find a small Spa which sells nice fresh Parmegiano and olive oil. 

Shopping in Rome, Italy, for souvenirs:
what to buy now at street stalls

Small, easily packed novelty souvenirs can be found on these stalls all over Rome, particularly at the major tourist attractions like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum in Rome and St Peter's Basilica.

They sell everything from fridge magnets to plastic replica statues. Good fun to have a look at - some are so kitsch  that they're absolute must-haves! 

Beware, though. The stall holders can be very persuasive, but their souvenirs are often ridiculously expensive and you'll find the same things much more cheaply elsewhere. Try one of the shopping streets below, or visit one of the many Roman markets, all of which are an excellent source of souvenirs from the cheap to the expensive.

Via del Mascherino:  One of the best places to go shopping in Rome, Italy for kids to buy cheap-ish souvenirs.  It's close to the Vatican - facing St Peter's Basilica walk to the right of St Peter's Square, into the Borgo Pio. 

Here there are lots of small souvenir shops with plenty on offer for around two Euros a time. Models of the Roman Colosseum are a favourite and unlikely snow globes featuring gladiators - even in the depths of winter in Rome snow rarely falls!

Shopping in Rome, Italy: religious souvenirs

The most obvious Rome shops for this type of souvenir are the many on Via della Conciliazione - the road leading to St Peter's. They're very well laid out (and usually  air-conditioned), selling everything from religious medals to statues, plaster busts of the Pope and even calendars of priests. 

For more information about religious souvenirs, have a look at this page of facts about the Pope.

Shopping in Rome, Italy: pictures

The Piazza Navona is one of those brilliant things to do in Rome which can kill several birds with one stone.

As well as one of Bernini's most famous fountains, there's the best toyshop in Rome, some great places to eat and the famous Christmas market. 

In terms of souvenirs, you'll find the square full of painters who sell everything from small line drawings to large oil paintings of every possible Roman scene. You'll also find artists who are very skilled in portraits. 

Or, if you can stand the joke at your own expense, have a caricature drawing done. It's one of the best memories of Italy for kids - they will love these.

Similar artists can be found at the top of the Spanish Steps, but there is a larger choice in the Piazza Navona.

Visiting Rome? Want to go to gladiator school?

Want to be a gladiator in Rome? Click here to find out how!

Well, now you can!

There's a great place in Rome that not many people know about. Run by local people who are fascinated with - and hugely knowledgeable about - Roman history and in particular the history of gladiators, it's a place where you too can learn to be a gladiator.

Click on this link, or on the photo above, to go to our article explaining why it's so good, and what you can expect.

It's a wonderful experience for anyone, of any age, and lots of visitors tell us it was the highlight of their time in Rome.

Don't miss out!

We hope these tips will help your shopping experience in Rome!

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