Shopping

Shopping in Rome can be really convenient. The prices of some products, when compared to cities like Milan, Florence and Venice, are on the average 25% lower, as established by a recent government study.
The best bargains are to be found most of all in craftmanship products (leather, gloves, shoes and umbrellas), clothing and furniture (brass objects, bronze fusions, silver, hand made objects in marble or plaster).

Fashion:

The key streets housing Roman fashion are precisely three: Via dei Condotti, with Trinità dei Monti visible in the distance, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina.

The "king" of Roman fashion is Valentino Garavani: boutique "Miss V" in Via Mario dé Fiori, 16 next to Hotel d'Inghilterra.
Boutique Uomo Donna Via dei Condotti, 13.

The "DolceVita" seamstresses
If Valentino is the most reknown Roman designer, the oldest dress-making workshop is that of Sorelle Fontana, Via San Sebastianello, 5, where the DolceVita protagonists of the Fifties and Sixties, including Marcello Mastroianni, were outfitted.

In Men's High Fashion, Battistoni in Via dei Condotti, 61, which also offers an important line of perfumes. Armani Boutique Uomo Donna is in Via dei Condotti, 77, while Emporio Armani is a short distance away in Via del Babuino, 140. Still in Via dei Condotti at n. 8 is Gucci and at n.49 Trussardi Boutique.
In Via Borgognona we find Fendi as well as another typically Roman griffe like Laura Biagiotti, which is at n.43 on the same street.

Missoni Boutique's shopwindows face Piazza di Spagna at n.176. Roman stylist Rocco Barocco is on Piazza di Spagna, 72/A.

Among the designers for the younger crowd: Dolce & Gabbana in Via Borgognona 7/D.

Jewellery

Bulgari represents for Rome what Tiffany is for New York and Asprey in London. The shopwindows in Via dei Condotti are easily found because landmarked by clusters of tourists. Andy Warhol was one of the major estimators of this shop.

Leather goods

in this field Rome offers an excellent price-quality ratio especially in shops around via Sistina (Subway Piazza Barberini). Among all, the most reasonable prices are to be found at Pappagallo (via Crispi 115/A) which produces leather and suede goods.

At a stone's throw from Piazza di Spagna two important streets: via Margutta, with art galleries, the ateliers of contemporary Roman painters and the best antique shops.

Via del Babuino is famous for expensive modern furniture, lamps and precious crystal shops.

The Caffé Greco
In Via dei Condotti n.86 near Piazza di Spagna visit the famous Caffé Greco. A place rich in history, frequented by artists. Here sat romantic writer J.W. Goethe for "un caffé all'italiana".
But nowadays one risks meeting too many tourists.

The Porta Portese Flea Market
Each Sunday morning, from six-thirty, there is a famous flea market in the Trastevere area. Arriving there early is essential for estimators because the best things go in the first hour. Federico Zeri, the major expert on Italian art, is said to have found some drawings by Raffaello, wrapped up in old canvas, on one of the Porta Portese stalls.