I am traveling to Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Tuscany, & Rome in May 2013. I already know that shopping for more than lunch will be a non-starter with my husband and son, so if I am going to feed my fabric addiction, I need to be strategic! I quilt, and sew home decor & clothing, so I'm interested in a wide range of fabric types, from cottons to silks to lace, etc. Does anyone know some special shops I should try to visit? Or even some local favorites?
There are a few fabric shops in the centre of Florence. One is http://www.baccitessuti.it/en/dove.html I think there is another on via dei campodoglio - not sure - they have beautiful fabric in the window and pictures of designer clothing made from the fabric. Likely quite expensive! There are also some tassel shops - one on via Porta Rossa. This blog might be helpful http://worksofhands.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/my-2010-florence-italy-vacation-needlework-shops-and-fabric-stores/
In Rome, there's a lovely shop on Via Boncompagni a few blocks from the American Embassy. Also one just down Via Tritone from Piazza Barbarini, the other direction from the Embassy. Lot's of restaurants in the area so maybe you can distract them with lunch at Pizzeria San Marco (not far off Boncompagni).
Teresa, I know whereof you speak. I travel with a fabric fiend. Fabric is heavy to bring back so my wife sometimes has it mailed. Her greatest find was a piece of hand woven, hand dyed, Uzbec silk we saw in Istnabul. She bought two yards. I always accompany her and if spoken to by the clerks I always tell them the most interesting women I've met are in fabric stores. One, in Glasgow, told me she would have to tell her husband that. Enjoy your shopping.
The central market square of Padua has many fabric vendors.
I too love fabric and always bring some back when I travel. My absolute favorite fabric store in the world is in Rome and is called Bassetti's http://whttp://www.fratellibassetti.com/wp/ Here is an interesting article about it http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/travel/06foraging.html Its a fun place to explore!