Diane J. Says:
What are shopping hours like in Italy? Do they close during the middle of the day like in Spain? Where can I find good Italian clothes there?
IL Contributor Valerie Fortney-Schneider Writes:
Store opening hours vary from region to region. In general, though, stores open from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30/5 p.m. until 8/8:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. They are often closed on Monday mornings and Sundays.
Large department stores often remain open all day, as do shops in tourist centers—these may remain open all day and sometimes until late in the evening. (In Alghero, Sardinia, many jewelry stores don’t close until 11 p.m. in summer.)
Shops where you can buy typical products with the “Made in Italy” label (clothing, leather goods, shoes, jewelry, and art objects) are often located in the historical centers of cities.
Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga in Milan, Via del Corso and Via Condotti in Rome, Via Toledo in Naples, and the shops on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence are famous worldwide.
If you’re seeking clothing bargains, check out the chain stores.
Read more about life in Italy on the IL website.
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