HOME + WEATHER + FOOD & DRINK + SHOPPING + ARTS & CULTURE + MOVIES + FUN + SERVICES + KIDS + SURVIVAL GUIDE + BLOG +
LODGING + EXCHANGE RATES + WEEKEND GETAWAYS + ABOUT US
Rome Fashion Shopping:
Spanish Steps + Pantheon + Campo de' Fiori + Trastevere + Piazza Navona + Monti + San Lorenzo + Parioli
More Shopping:
Beauty and Fragrance +Bookstores + Designer Discounts + Flea Markets + Florists + Gifts + Gourmet Foods + Kids +Historic Pharmacies +Home Furnishings + Department Stores
The Best in Rome
Rome Shopping: MONTI
The region of Rome we call Monti, was once the Suburra, the residential area below the city. From Roman times until as recently as the 1940s it was an area of ill-repute, populated by prostitutes. Messalina and Nero are said to have gone there in disguise in search of debauchery. The working class inhabitants of the area spoke their own dialect, Monticiano, a sub-dialect of Romanesco. Today it is one of Rome's most expensive and exciting neighborhoods, stretching from the Colosseum to San Giovanni in Laterano. Relics of several epics stand side-by-side, and tucked among all the history are beautifully restored apartment buildings, chic shops, enoteche and restaurants. It is beautiful by day and magical at night, when you can see the Colosseum lit up from the top of the hill at Via dei Serpenti. Monti gets its names from hills, three of Rome's famous seven: the Viminale, Esquilino and Quirinale all fall within the district.
Shopping Monti is a fascinating experience. Turn almost any corner and you'll find another surprise: boutiques, gourmet stores, home furnishings you won't find anywhere else. The main shopping streets are Via del Boschetto, Via dei Serpenti, Via Leonina, Via Panisperna and the side streets that connect them.
Area Bzz
Verona-born Davide Bazzerla is the creative artist behind this extraordinary collection. His work is fabric art as much as it is clothing. He cuts and braids and arranges cloth into incredible garments. His work is in the collection of the Museo Galliera in Paris, where in 2002, he was named one of the most creative designers in the world. His clients,, he told us, are sophisticated women of thirty-plus years of age, who come from London, Milano, Florence. If you are a woman with a great flair for clothes and tremendous individuality, Bazzeria is the designer for you. Everyone else, stop by the shop — it's like walking through an art gallery.
Via del Boschetto, 3 tel 06 485 743
B
This shop with a one-letter name sells fashions, accessories and items for the home, all in black (for which the B stands) or white. You'll find great shapes in dresses, coats and separates, wonderful chunky black jewelry, black teapots and candlesticks. There are a few touches of white here and there to set things off and in summer, white is the predominate color.
Piazza Madonna dei Monti, 1 tel 06 478 26335
Erboristeria
Simona pays special care to stocking the shelves of her shop with 100 percent natural health and beauty products many of them from Italian producers ABOCA, Erbolario and Guam. She also carries he hard-to-find San Giovese line of a wine-based products. And this is one of only three places in Rome where you can find the complete Nature Plus line. English, French and German are spoken.
Via del Boschetto 28/a tel 06 4820816
Le Gallinelle
This small shop sells an intriguing mix of new and vintage clothing and accessories, all put together with great panache. Look for the stylish quilted jackets made from cotton fabric printed in Afghanistan.
Via del Boschetto, 76 tel 06 488 1017
Il Giardino del Te
This sleek and modern space feels as much like an art gallery as it does a shop. On display are more than 120 international teas from Japan to Russia to Sri Lanka, including the rare and precious Chinese white tea and many interesting house blends, as well as a wide selection of all the accoutrements: strainers and tea cups and wonderful tea pots.
via del Boschetto 112/A tel 06 474 6888
God Save the Look
A vintage shop with a great attitude. Clothing and accessories for men and women from the '50s, '60s and '70s.
Via Panisperna, 227A tel 06 482 5211
Kaja
Handmade clothing and accessories from Argentina. Colorful hand-knit sweaters, skirts and shawls. Appliqued felt pants and skirts, hand-painted leather handbags. Seriously fun shoes.
Via degli Zingari, 62 tel 06 488 2962
244 Via Panisperna
This bright corner shop has some wonderful contemporary clothing, but it's main attraction is the shoes, really beautiful footwear from high-fashion to highly amusing.
Via Panisperna, 244 tel 06 488 0598
Fabio Picconi
It's fun to browse through this shop, which is crammed full of vintage costume jewelry. We love the bakelite bangle bracelets, and the large rhinestone pins. Perfect for gift-giving.
Via del Boschetto, 148 tel 06 47 41 697
Pulp
For the acid rockers among us, the shop sells vintage clothing, weird t-shirts and generally groovy stuff for men and women.
Via del Boschetto, 140 tel 06 485 511
Segreti di Donna
The women's clothing here is all embroidered, appliqued, sequined, bejeweled, lace-trimmed or some combination of the above. All very much of the moment and very well-priced.
Via dei Serpenti, 102/103 tel. 06 454 916089
Spazio Artigiano
Owner Cristina Venezia has assembled a treasure trove of hand-crafted items, including a great selection of Sicilian ceramics, hand-loomed textiles, reverse glass paintings from Romania, handmade scraves, jewelry, handbags, blown glass. Just a block from via Nazionale, but away from the bustling traffic.
Vicolo dei Serpenti 13 tel 06 48 24860
Tina Sondergard
Danish ex-patriot Tina Sondergard's shop is a miracle. She makes all the garments to measure, using beautiful, unusual fabrics, and she charges less than you'd pay off the rack. For example, an impeccably made wool coat will cost little more than €300. Dresses, skirts, jackets, trousers, all very original and very well-made. Run, do not walk.
Via del Boschetto, 1/d tel. 334 385 0799
Back to home page In Rome Now Travel Guide: Shopping in Rome, Italy