Shops are open from 09.00/09.30 to 12.30/13.00 and from 15.30/16.00 to 19.30/20.00, although shopping centres are becoming popular in Italy and some are open until 22.00. Prices are reasonable and the quality of goods very high.
Chain stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim are found in many Italian cities and towns. Shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays and Monday morning or Wednesday afternoon plus bank holidays. Most towns have a weekly street market held once a week in the morning, information can be found on each town’s website.
Suggestions: Clothes for men and women (dresses, shoes, gloves, silk ties, shirts) lacework, jewellery, leather goods (handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silverware, alabaster, woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal. It is advisable to carry merchandise purchased with you in order to avoid any inconvenience. All major credit cards are accepted in Italy. A proof of purchase (receipt) must be kept.
Beware of buying fake designer goods from street sellers as a new law exists which imposes a fine on people buying illegal items such as cds, handbags, DVDs and clothes from street sellers. The fine can be quite high!

SCONTRINO FISCALE (receipt)
Foreign visitors to Italy, as all other persons, are required on every occasion they purchase goods or pay for services, to ask for a receipt (scontrino) or an invoice (ricevuta fiscale). This proof of purchase may be asked by town guards and plain clothes officers as you come out of the shop to prove that the shop has declared the sale and that the client has declared the purchase.
Please beware of buying goods from street vendors as this could results in a very heavy fine.