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SHOPS ARE OPEN FROM 9 am to 1 pm and from 3:30/4 pm to 7:30/8 pm Tuesday to Saturday, and Monday afternoon. From the middle of June to the middle of September, the shops are closed on Saturday afternoon but would be open on Monday morning. These times are extremely variable depending on type of the shop and the type of town. Department stores and shops in tourist centers  may remain open all day and, sometimes, until late in the evening. 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 and Via Tornabuoni, in Florence are famous worldwide.

Suggestions: Clothes for men and women (dresses, shoes, gloves, silk ties, skirts); lacework, jewelry, leather goods (handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silver items, alabaster; woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal ware. It is advisable to carry merchandise purchased with you in order to avoid any inconvenience. All major credit cards are honored in Italy. A proof of purchase (receipt) must be kept.  For people who want to really find Italian fashion at the source. Italian laws have recently allowed the creation of outlets, where prices are considerably lower than in boutiques. Thus, there is a great opportunity for brand names at outlet prices such as  Prada, Gucci, Armani, Loro Piana, Sergio Rossi, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana  and many more.

BANKING HOURS

BANKS IN ITALY ARE OPEN APPROXIMATELY Mon.-Fri. from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 3 pm to 4:00 pm and closed all day on Sat. and Sun. and on national holidays. Afternoon hours may vary from city to city. Travelers’ checks can be exchanged for Italian currency at most hotels and shops and foreign exchange offices in main railway stations and airports. Euros can also be obtained through any bank, ATM machine, or exchange office (Ufficio di Cambio), at airports, seaports and railway stations in the main cities. Foreign notes, travelers’ checks and letters of credit are purchased by Italian banks at the current rate of exchange less a commission which varies from place to place.

POST OFFICES

POST OFFICES ARE GENERALLY OPEN from 8 am – 1:30 or 2 pm from Monday to Friday, Saturday 8 – 11:45 am. Some counters (e.g. registered mail, telegrams, etc.) have different hours and in the main cities they may also be open in the after