Shopping in Venice – My confession: I love to shop! What is shopping like in Venice?
You will find souvenir shops in abundance in Venice. Beware, most items are imported and not Venetian at all. As long as you know that, there may be some things of interest anyway. For the grandkids, I picked up playing cards and for my friends, fake Venetian masks just for fun.
Here are a few suggestions for lasting and worthwhile souvenirs:
Leather. You’ll find leather around every corner in Venice, but many are made elsewhere and only finished in Italy and may be sporting the “Made in Italy” tag anyway. (A $15 purse will last $15 worth of time. I know this firsthand.) A question to ask yourself—Is a true craftsman minding the shop?
For authentic hand-crafted leather goods, I recommend two places.
The one place that gets the most positive reviews is a small shop in Dorsoduro, Il Grifone.
For artisan leather goods, such as wallets, belts and purses, come to the workshop itself and enjoy the smells and artistry displayed there by the man who has created all you see, “from his heart”. Truly an experience worth your time. High quality workmanship at fair prices. Located at Fondamente del Gaffaro in Dorsoduro.
I have bought two items from Raggio Veneziano Leather Design–a wallet and a small crossbody envelope purse that is embellished with Murano glass. (My most beautiful purse ever and with the addition of Murano glass, the very best souvenir of this spectacular place). Their leather bags are 100% cowhide and are all vegetable-dyed in breathtakingly bright colors. They boast that their bags are 100% Italian made, meaning they were not imported and then only finished in Italy.
Even if you don’t buy anything, visit their shop to see the sampling of beautiful bags and leather. Truly works of art. You will find them in Campo San Stefano, right by the Accademia Bridge in the San Marco neighborhood.
Murano Glass. Beware! Not all the glass labeled “Murano Glass” is actually Murano Glass. To be sure, you can buy your glass on Murano itself.
Signs that Murano Glass is real:
1. It’s not perfect. Glass that is hand-blown may be asymmetrical and may have a mark where it was released from the glassblower’s stick or pliers.
2. It’s not inexpensive. Even the shop where it is sold should be high end.
3. Is there a Certificate of Authenticity? You should expect this with real Murano glass. Sometimes you will even see the master’s signature or a label from the Murano workshop.
4. Often there are vibrant colors and even little gold flecks.
Burano Lace. The sad thing is that much of the lace you find even on Burano is made in China and only finished in Italy. Look for “100% Made in Italy” and expect to pay premium prices.
Some respected shops are Merletti d’Arte dalla Lidia and Emilia Burano (famous from the Hallmark Wedding Veil series)
Glass Beads and Jewelry. You will find many places to buy inexpensive beads and jewelry, but for quality, try:
1. Marisa Convento. Venetian Dreams. Dorsoduro 862.
2. Rialto 79. At the foot of the Rialto Bridge, San Polo 79.
3. La Compagnia delle Perle. Cannaregio 408.
Paper Goods. Venice specializes in beautiful marbled paper. This makes a terrific gift and a souvenir that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. On a Sunday afternoon, one craftsman invited me into the back of her shop and showed me how the paper is created. What a treat! Here are three places not to miss:
1. Arzanart Marbled Paper Studio. Marbled paper, books, journals, and even jewelry. Barbaria de le Tole, in Castello, between Campo San Giovanni e Paolo and San Francesco della Vigna.
2. Plum Plum Creations. Printmaking as it was done in the 15th Century. Etchings, paintings, and reproductions that are breathtaking, and a great souvenir of Venice. Postcards even. Fondamenta dei Ormesini 2681. Cannaregio.
3. Il Scriba. Handmade marble paper and journals. Known for its inks and calligraphy sets as well. A beautiful shop with top-notch service. Salizada San Lio 5328. Castello.
Masks. Of course, masks are a symbol of Venice and here is where you can find masks of all shapes and sizes. Look for plastic ones to take the kiddos at souvenir stands, or quality, hand-crafted masterpieces by Viennese artisans.
If you are looking for the work of artisans, try:
1. Ca’Macana. One of the oldest and best-known mask makers in Venice, offering decorative handmade face and eye masks, some embellished with feathers, some historical, and some for the masquerade. Prices range from 40 Euros up to 400 Euros. They even offer family workshops where kids as young as four can make their own masks. Calle Cappeller 3215. Dorsoduro.
2. LaBauta. Paper mache’ masks and costumes completely handmade. A wide assortment at very affordable prices. Workshops are also offered. Great service. Great reviews. Campo San Toma 2867. San Polo.
Two more suggestions:
1. Fondaco dei Tedeschi. A high-end department store near the Rialto Bridge (on the San Marco side). It is a designer shopping mall, but its real lure is the view from its rooftop. A great place for photos, but the visit to the top must be booked ahead online, about a month ahead. Visits are limited to 15 minutes but offer a panoramic view of Venice. Access is free.
2. Liberia Acqua Alta. A unique and funky used bookstore, where the owner prepares for flooding by displaying books in such items as gondolas and bathtubs. Enjoy, take photos and don’t miss the book stairs in the back garden. Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, Castello 5176. Near Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Best to go early as this site gets very crowded.
I have crammed a lot of information into this post. I hope it was of value to you. If you have any questions please send me an email at: ronksystems@gmail.com
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