The Antique Collector's Guide

to Shopping in Italy

Italy is an antique treasure hunter’s dream destination. With history dating back thousands of years all around, you are sure to find the perfect piece to bring back home.

Rome

On the via Coronari hunt for crystal chandeliers and furniture from the 19th century furniture and shops filled with decorative art.

The streets via Baubuino and via Margutta in the Tridente neighborhood are best for gilded 18th century furniture and detailed oil paintings.

The daily outdoor market in the Piazza Fontanella Borghese dotted with market stalls is the venue for antique books, magazines, engravings and prints.

Florence

Visit the Oltrarno side of town for some of the best antique shopping, particularly the via Maggio, in the shadow of the enormous Pitti Palace.

More than 100 stands are set up selling items as small as skeleton keys from 100 years ago to enormous piece of 17th century furniture in the Piazza Ciompi during the last Sunday of the month.

Arezzo

The Tuscan town of Arezzo has hosted a monthly antiques market that is now one of the best in Italy for the past 40 years.

During the first weekend of the month, the town center is transformed with over 500 vendors selling paintings, furniture and jewelry filling the Piazza Grande and the streets surrounding San Francesco.

You will still be able to visit at least a few of the over 100 antique dealers that have stores in the town during regular days.

Lucca

Head to the Via del Battistero known for its antique furniture shops. On the via Fillungo you will find antique jewelry stores.

On the third weekend of the month, the town hosts an important antique market. Dealers from around the region display vintage textiles, tableware and gilded frames.

Venice

The narrow calle in the San Marco and San Paolo sections of town are where you can find antique shops selling furnishings from the 16th century, old masters’ paintings and antique Murano glass items.

Antique glass chandelier from Murano, Venice

A visit to Old World Books in the Jewish ghetto located in the sestiere Cannareggio is a treasure trove of rare books and poetry.

Naples

The small shops in the Quartieri Spagnoli are where you will find precious Capodimonte Italian Porcelain.

The via San Gregorio Armeno, also known as Christmas Alley, is the place for nativity figurines as far back as 150 years ago.

The via San Sebastiano is lined with workshops making handcrafted violins and mandolins where you can occasionally find antique musical instruments.

Along the via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli are antiques shops specializing in Baroque and Rococo furniture.

Dealers of World War II memorabilia, porcelain and furniture sell their collections during the 3rd and 4th weekends of the month in an open-air antique market at Villa Communale Park.

Modena

For the antique lover who is looking for something offbeat and unusual, Nautilus is the shop for you.

The shop is filled with items such as Victorian mourning jewelry and antique medical instruments. There is a second shop located in Turin.

Here are a few good words to know when shopping for antiques in Italy:

L’antiquario - antique dealer

Antichità - Antiques

Lo Prendo! - I’ll take it!

For more information about travel to Italy,

visit our website www.touritalynow.com or call our travel experts

at 800.955.4418.