Hi there! :)
I was wondering if anyone on here has any recommendations for shopping for quality souvenirs in Rome. I'm looking for something made in Italy, artistic and original. Nothing that is mass produced in other parts of the world. I know that the center of Rome is full of crappy souvenir shops... but I'm looking for something beautiful. Paintings, photography, pottery are the things I'm looking to buy.
Thanks for you help!
Mia
Ceramics and pottery are not really what Rome is known for, and every place I'm thinking of actually offers Nordic kind of products, as they are all the rage right now. There's shops that specialize in kitchenware of course, you may want to walk by and see for yourself or inquire whether they carry Italian products of your liking.
You're bound to walk by them sooner or later so it's not going to be a detour! I'm thinking specifically of:
- Sorelle Adamoli, on via del Plebiscito, almost at the corner with piazza Venezia/via del Corso
- Limentani, on via del Portico d'Ottavia (the Jewish Ghetto)
As for original contemporary art, consider the products on sale at a wonderful gallery called L'Image, on via della Scrofa, a five minutes walk from piazza Navona, maybe ten from the Pantheon.
If you're after original and reasonably priced photography, there's a shop called Trevimage offering just that. It's on via degli Avignonesi, a little alley behind via del Tritone. Trevi Fountain is five minutes away.
How about this place? http://www.galleriavarsi.it/?lang=en
I found some nice things in the Vatican gift shop. You can also have your items blessed in St. Peters, and pick it up later.
Hi all!
Thank you for your suggestions. I'll be in Rome in a few days and I'll make sure to check out the places you have mentioned.
I'll write again on this forum to give some feedback on the places visited!
Thank you :)
There's a painting on my wall that we got 40 years ago from a "starving artist" type at Piazza Navona. (We were starving student types then.) Probably mass-produced locally, but it made a great remembrance of the trip.
One year we stayed at a small hotel just off Piazza Navona on via Coronari. We discovered that Coronari is a wonderful street for shopping, both window and in-store. I bought some Venetian glass in one shop and some jewellery in another.
Oh great I'll make sure to see what's going on in Piazza Navona and on Via dei Coronari also. I was told there are a lot of interesting shops on that street. Thank you for the tips!!
If you are looking for bath goods (soap, creams, perfumes)...we made a visit to Ai Monasteri just one street over from Piazza Navona.
The items are made in monasteries and abbeys around Italy. We picked up some lovely smelling soap, but there is lots of other things as well.
Thanks Nicole! I'll try to drop by there also.
I was looking for photography mainly... and decorative objects.
I'll keep searching on google. I found a site where locals suggest their favorite businesses. Will see what they say also! :)
We picked up some nice prints from artists in the Spanish Steps area...this was 2008, so not sure if they are still allowed to set up there...
There are beautiful shops selling Murano objects near the Piazza della Republica. Also, the Vatican gift shop has high quality souvenirs.
Hi again! :)
I'm back from Rome after my fourth visit! And since I've seen it a few times already, this time I had the chance to really visit it like a local, checking out some of the "less touristy" places, restaurants and stores.
And since this time, the main purpose was to come home with some original art, I really made it a point to visit many many places.
Thank you again to everyone who has sent in their suggestions :)
This is what I have come up with:
I found some beautiful pottery at De Sanctis on Piazza di Pietra (http://www.desanctis1890.com/). Loads of quality and SUPER friendly service. I even asked them to ship to me what I bought. They have been in business for so long, they seemed used to this so I trust the piece will arrive intact.
I accidentally came across one of the suggestions that someone mentioned on here: Trevimage, the photography shop. It's located on a small street around the area of Barberini so unless you're lucky like me, you would have to make it a point to go. I can't even count the number of pictures I bought from there!! STUNNING original photography by Carlo De Gori. And it's not just the photography that is beautiful but also the couple that runs the shop (Carlo and Nora). They gave me so many tips which I followed (where to eat, best gelato, etc). I didn't find a site for the store, but this is Carlo's: www.carlodegori.com and this is the FB page: https://www.facebook.com/trevimage/
Another great find: the Monti Vintage market. It's a market that seems to take place every weekend, although I'm not sure. The schedule can be found on their site: www.mercatomonti.com The lovely thing about this market is that you find all sorts of artists from Rome (and also from further away) selling their beautiful art, clothes, lamps, bow ties..!! Anything they make really! There is so much talent and there is really something for everyone. I ended up purchasing a lamp made out of an old book. Very cool. And the market is located in the sweet area of Monti, which is really worth a visit.
Those are the places I bought from and that I suggest you also visit if in Rome.
Again, thank you for taking the time to answer me! It was my first time on here, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back for more advice on my next trip :)
M
