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Italy's best variety and value can consistently be found in
the following items: Clothes for men and women (dresses, shoes,
gloves, silk ties, skirts), lacework, jewelry, leather goods
(handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silver
items, alabaster; woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal
ware. Venice is the center of the glass & crystal industry.
Florence specializes in leather, gold, and ceramics.
 Although
you can't take all of the delicious Italian food home with you
(except on your hips!), you can certainly take home some amazing
bottles of olive oil or wine. One can purchase
leather at a fraction of the cost of what you would find
in the United States and with much higher quality. The best
leather goods include jackets, handbags, briefcases, belts,
shoes, pants and wallets. Italy is also known for its high quality
gold. Look for shops that sell the coveted 18 karat gold
or stunning white gold.  Clothing
made especially of silks and cashmere is also
of supreme quality. In addition, you can look for some exquisite
antiques and art. Original work and replicas are sold
all over. You can find many fine shops along Via Del Corso,
parallel to the Spanish steps in Piazza Di Spagna.
Rome is definitely the place to purchase Catholic religious
memorabilia; all of the shops near the Vatican in particular
specialize in religious paraphernalia. Something truly unique
to Rome - for over 30 years, there has been a talented group
of women who sit along a long narrow hallway in the Vatican
selling handmade pins. These pins are some of the most extraordinary
works of art you will witness; the artists use a magnifying
glass to paint the truly delicate and fine details onto each
one-of-a-kind pin. If you intend to buy one, however, make sure
you bring cash (either euros or American dollars). They do not
accept credit cards. The pins start at $40 and increase in price
dependent on size and decoration.
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Shops are open from 9am to 1pm and then from 3:30/4pm
to 7:30/8pm. There are some variations in Northern Italy
(Milan, Turin), where the lunch break is shorter and shops close
earlier. Prices are reasonable and the quality of goods is very
high. Department stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim, and
Standa and stores featuring major Italian brand names for fashion,
silversmith, jewelry, and designer objects are found in many
Italian cities and towns.
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All major credit cards are honored in Italy. The exchange
rate automatic currency conversion and low fees offered by credit
cards make it the best way to pay for large purchases.
VAT or Value Added Tax (or otherwise referred to as
IVA in Italy) is a tax levied by the European Union on the sale
of most goods. The purchase price of any individual item must
be above 30,000 lire to qualify for the reimbursement of the
VAT. Non-EU citizens are entitled to receive this VAT back when
they leave Italy. It is imperative that, when purchasing an
item, you fill out a special VAT return form stamped
by the shop in which you are purchasing the items. This form
and all receipts with clearly defined purchase prices and VAT
information must be presented with the unopened purchases to
the Customs office at the airport in your city of departure.
The customs office will not accept receipts without the
necessary VAT forms from the shop. In some instances,
you will be entitled to receive a cash refund directly at the
airport or some stores automatically reduce the price for you
right there in the store. Be aware that if you do not return
the forms within a certain time period, the store is entitled
to charge you the VAT that they had originally taken off your
bill.
You can carry merchandise purchased with you, or have it shipped
home, whichever is more convenient.
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