Shops are open from 9.00/9.30 am to 12.30/1.00 pm and from 3.30/4.00 pm to 7.30/8.00 pm, although shopping centres are becoming popular in Italy and some are open 24 hours a day. Prices are reasonable and the quality of goods very high. Chain stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim are found in many Italian cities and towns. Shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays and Mondays or Wednesdays plus bank holidays. Most towns have a weekly street market held once a week in the morning, information can be found on each town's web site.
Suggestions: Clothes for men and women (dresses, shoes, gloves, silk ties, shirts) lacework, jewellery, leather goods (handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silverware, alabaster, woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal. It is advisable to carry merchandise purchased with you in order to avoid any inconvenience. All major credit cards are accepted in Italy. A proof of purchase (receipt) must be kept.
Great stockists outlets Personal shoppers
Quality and value for money: the best combination in Italy in many ways! In recent years a fashion in itself is developing through the industry of stockists outlets. Many are located near the major cities of Milan and Florence, but also in other regions where the actual factories are located, namely, in Abruzzo, Marche, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont and Veneto.
A Guide Book covering the whole of Italy can be purchased (at ca. € 10) in any bookshop in Italy or on line: Guida Agli Spacci 2005 by Marina Martorana - published by Sterling & Kupfer
A personal shopper can make it all happen in the shortest time, between High Street shopping and stockists outlets. You can obtain information at your hotel of stay or local tourist board.
For specialist UK agents, please contact the Italian State Tourist Board.
SCONTRINO FISCALE (receipt)
Foreign visitors to Italy, as all other persons, are required on every occasion they purchase goods or pay for services, to ask for a receipt (scontrino) or an invoice (ricevuta fiscale). This proof of purchase may be asked by town guards and plain clothes officers as you come out of the shop to prove that the shop has declared the sale and that the client has declared the purchase. Failure to do so may result in fines for both the shop and the client.
In order to avoid paying the fines laid down by Italian law, foreign tourists must ask for these receipts.
It is the right of every citizen to ask for such a fiscal document confirming the exact amount due. Abuses and transgressions by the person required to issue this document can be reported to the nearest "Comando della Guardia di Finanza" the public body appointed to control fiscal requirements. You might be asked by an officer of "Guardia di Finanza" to produce the receipt immediately after you leave the shop. If you don't have it, you may be obliged to pay a fine of up to €155.