Shopping

Venice attracts more tourists than it can support. Venice is also one of the prime shopping centers in Europe selling everything from post cards to glassware to costumes and masks. Not only is shopping in Venice a versatile experience, it is an aesthetic journey that takes you in and out through the lanes of this historical city. We suggest you pace yourself, take shopping as a part of your tour and not as an exclusive activity.

Like most classical cities in Europe, Venice is filled with art and antiques. Many exquisite paintings, statuettes and antique pieces go up on auction everyday in Venice. Visitors can easily purchase such items and have them shipped off to their native countries.

Venice is famed for its Murano Glass that is a favored item and is widely purchased by most tourists. This is a seven hundred year old tradition used to manufacture simple yet sophisticated glassware that is handmade on the island of Murano. The glass figurines, jewelry, tableware and decorative articles are exported all over the world and obviously are the cheapest in Venice.

Tourist shopping regions are concentrated in the narrow streets between St Mark's square and the Rialto and around Campo San Luca. A number of small pavement shops dot the alleys and bridges selling a variety of shoes, clothing and accessories. The upscale stores with fashion labels from around the world are centered on St Mark's square. San Polo on the other hand, is the art-shopping district, offering everything from model gondolas to custom-made masks for the carnival.

Mall

Shopping in Venice is an intimate affair and malls and department stores are not a big feature on the shopping list. There is however one option for budget-style purchases of every kind

Coin

Location: Salizzada San Giovanni Grisostomo 5790,

Cannaregio

Phone: +39 041 520 35 81

Art / Antiques / Crafts Shops:

Laboratorio del Gerva

Location: Campo Bandiera e Moro 3725,

Castello

Phone: 041 523 67 77

This place houses a great selection of original and restored antiques and has been catering to tourists in Venice for nearly fifty years. The selection is imported from all across Italy and people who are least knowledgeable about antiques will find some trinket to take home. A survey of the warehouse for really serious buyers can be arranged through prior intimation.

Bugno Samueli Art Gallery

Location: Campo San Fantin 1996/

Phone: 041 523 13 05

People serious about collecting art should visit this place. It is a collection of exquisite (read expensive) art by some of today's most promising artists. Although there are many modern art pieces that are moderately priced. Don't drop in here if you are just curious about contemporary art. This place is strictly for the avid and rich collector.

Galleria Traghetto

Location: Calle delle Ostreghe 2457

Phone: 041 522 11 88

A unique collection of sculptures and paintings in various mediums are showcased and are put for sale.

BAC Art Studio

Location: Campo San Vio 862 and

Ruga Rialto 1069

Phone: 041 522 81 71/ 041 523 11 08

A memento of Venice for your home in the form or posters, painting, images and postcards can be bought here. Great quality, original artwork by the likes of Cadore and Paolo Baruffaldi could be available.

Artemisia

Location: Campiello Zen 972

Phone: 041 244 02 90

Like stated before, Venice is an ideal place to learn about art and Artemisia is one of the best places to buy the supplies for this activity. Anything needed to do with sculpting, painting, restoration is available here on a 20% discount for students.

Area

Location: Calle del Tintor 1811

Phone: 041 71 04 27

This is the place you go to when an artistic mood overtakes and makes you want to redesign your home with deep, intense hues of ceramic. Area is a great place to look for articles to decorate your home. It also extends facilities for shipping your wares to your destination.

La Margherita Ceramiche

Location: Sotoportego de Siora Bettina 2345

Phone: 041 72 31 20

Margherita is a place to buy household ceramic pottery, utensils and clocks and a lot of hand-painted items.

Legno e Dintorni

Location: Fondamenta Gherardini 2840

Dorsoduro

Phone: 041 522 63 67

This is a good place to purchase wood carving gift articles for adults as well as kids.

Berengo

Location: Fondamenta dei Vetrai 109/a

Murano

Phone: 041 527 63 64

Web: www.berengo.com

This is one place that devotes itself to artistic glasswork where aesthetic sense overtakes the utility of the item. The prices are reflective of the artistic treatment of the articles on sale.

Barovier & Toso

Location: Fondamenta dei Vetrai 28

Murano

Phone: 041 527 43 85

Web: www.barovier.com

One of the best places in Venice to buy glassware that is also one of the most expensive.

Jesurum

Location: Merceria del Capitello 4856

San Marco

Phone: 041 520 60 85

Venice has been recognized as a place that creates exquisite lacework since 1878. Jesurum is one place to get some best pieces crafted in the native art form.

L'Arlecchino

Location: Calle dei Cristi 1722-29 and Ruga del Ravano 789 in San Polo

Phone: 041 71 65 91 / 041 520 82 20

One of the many places in Venice to buy custom made paper- mache` masks for the Carnivale.

Books:

Libreria Demetra

Location: Campo San Geremia 282

Cannaregio

Phone: 041 275 01 52

This places sells limited edition books entirely on Venice that are written in Italian.

Libreria al Ponte

Location: 06, Mariahilfer Strasse 37-39,

San Marco

Sells Guides on Venice and Italy and books for all age groups.

Furniture

Segno di Lorenzo Usicco

Location: Calle del Tintor 1809

Phone: 041 71 09 75

This is one of the few places in Venice that will allow you to enter just for the sake of window-shopping and treat you well all the same. Again a stop for the rich, the collection of handmade, cherry wood furniture is delightful.