Rome, Italy Information
In the winter shops are generally open from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:30 to
19:30; in the summer they are open from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00.
Some shops downtown have continuous hours, from 10:30 to 19:30. They are closed
on Sundays and on Monday mornings, with the exception of grocery stores and
some stores carrying technical items, which are closed on Sundays and on
Thursday afternoons in winter and on Saturday afternoons in summer.
Sales: Sales occur twice a year: from the beginning of January until February and from mid-June to mid-September.
Markets: Besides the Roman shops, the Open Markets are also worth visiting.The following are some of the most typical:
Campo de' Fiori: Situated in the heart of the old city, in Piazza Campo de' Fiori, it is open
from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 13:30. Every morning the piazza fills up
with varied stands that sell fruits and vegetables, meats, chicken and fish,
dried beans, dried fruits, and flowers. Excellent specialty food and bread
shops surround the piazza, rounding out the range of products offered.
Porta Portese: Via Portuense and Via Ippolito Nievo Open Sundays from 6:30 to 14:00. Here
one can find anything: clothes, shoes, purses, suitcases, camping supplies,
sheets, washclothes, pots and pans, kitchen supplies, plants, puppies, spare
parts, cassettes and compact discs, old LPs and 78s.
Many events are held in Rome, Italy involving entire neighborhoods or single streets. Here we indicate the most important:
One Hundred Painters: Takes place in Via Margutta, in Spring and Fall, in one of 
the most typical streets of Rome.
The Christmas edition: Takes place in Piazza di Spagna.
Expo Tevere: Held every year from mid-June to mid-July, between Sant'Angelo bridge and
Cavour bridge. It is open from 6:00 a.m to 1:00 in the morning. The event is
dedicated above all to local Italian handicrafts, but there are also stands with
pastas, jams, olive oils, wines and liquors, at prices below those of shops. Noanti Fair: This neighborhood fair is organized every year at the end of July. Trastevere
fills up with various stands and kiosks where one can eat and find almost
anything.
Antique Show: Held in via dei Coronari twice a year. The first edition begins the second
half of May and is open from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 23:00. The second
takes place between September and October and is open Monday to Thursday from
15:00 to 23:00 and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 23:00. In addition to
antiques, furs, jewelry and knick-knacks are sold.
High Fashion Show of Trinità dei Monti: The famous fashion show of the second half of July is staged with the
stairway of Trinità dei Monti as a backdrop, to the south of Piazza di Spagna.
It is rather exclusive, in that seats are reserved for invited guests. The
public usually crowds in at the back.
Via Giulia: This elegant Roman street is occasionally the site of art shows and special
evenings. At such times antique shops and art galleries remain open late into
the evening, offering refreshments to visitors.