Many Italian products, especially clothes, shoes and bags, are world-famous for their style and quality. Florence, Milan and Rome are important
fashion centers. Some places are known for particular products, such as Carrara (Tuscany) for marble. In several parts of Sardinia, writing paper made of cork is produced. Cremona (Lombardy) is famous for its handmade violins. Valenza (Piemonte) has a large number of goldsmiths and Sulmona (Abruzzo) produces ’confetti’ (sugar-coated almonds) used all over Italy for wedding celebrations. Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna) is famous for mosaics and
Volterra (Tuscany) for alabaster goods.
Rome: Designer names are focused around the fashionable Via Condotti. Old books and prints can be bought from bookstalls of Piazza Borghese. Rome’s flea market is at Porta Portese in Trastevere on Sunday mornings.
Milan: The city’s industrial wealth is reflected in the chic, elegant shops of Via Montenapoleone. Prices tend to be higher than in other major cities.
Venice: The island of Murano, famous for its glassware, is also home to art dealers and skillful goldsmiths.
Florence: Boasts some of the finest goldsmiths, selling from shops concentrated along both sides of the Ponte Vecchio. Florentine jewelry has a particular quality of satin finish called
satinato.
Siena: Full of individual shops selling
fatto a mano (made by hand) goods, such as paper, clothes, ceramics and candles.
Southern Italy: In the south, there are still families handmaking the same products as their ancestors: filigree jewelry and products of wrought iron in Abruzzo; wood products in Calabria; and a variety of textiles, including tablecloths, in Sicily and Sardinia.
Shopping hours: Generally Mon-Sat 0830-1230 and 1530-1930, with some variations in northern Italy where the lunch break is shorter and the shops close earlier.
Currency Information:CurrencyEuro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Currency ExchangeTraveller's cheques, cheques and foreign money can be changed at banks, railway stations and airports and very often at major hotels (generally at a less convenient rate).
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMsDiners Club, MasterCard, American Express and Visa are widely accepted.
Traveller's ChequesTraveller's cheques are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Currency RestrictionsRestrictions apply.
Banking HoursThese vary from city to city but, in general, Mon-Fri 0830-1330 and 1500-1600.
Exchange Rate Indicators| Date | Jan 09 |
| £1.00= | €1.06 |
| $1.00= | €0.73 |
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