Throughout the city of Rome, the city’s shops and stores are very attractive with their elaborate window displays of colourful fashion items and numerous interesting oddities. In the old center all the streets are always over-flowing with shoppers from around the globe looking for their own version of Italian style.

The greatest ateliers are situated in the so-called “quadrilateral” area, which includes the most refined elite shopping roads of the capital. Via Borgognona, Piazza di Spagna, Via Bocca di Leone, Via Tomacelli, Via Mario dei Fiori, Via Belsiana, Via Gregoria-na and Via del Babuino. If you’re looking for accommodation, have a look at this vacation rental apartment in the spanish steps area !The best shopping area for fashion is along Via Condotti and Via Frattina, from Via del Corso to Piazza di Spagna, and all of the avenues in between. Shop windows are dressed with jewellery, foot-wear, and Italian designer clothes. Piazza di Spagna, nowadays closed to traffic, has prestigious boutiques like Valentino, Dolce e Gabbana, Missoni, Sergio Rossi, Genny, Rocco Barocco and Krizia. You can also find historic antique dealers such as Carlo Maria Fallani, Franco and Alberto Di Castro, Fabrizio Apolloni, Antonnacci Efrti, Ida Benucci and Cesare Lampronti. The Spanish Steps square leads then into the most famous and elegant shopping streets of Rome:

• Via Condotti is one of the most elegant streets in the world, lined with the shops such as Bulgari, who opened his “atelier” here in 1905, Hermés, Cartier, Ferragamo, Battistoni (an historical Roman atelier of male tailored fashion), Valentino, Gucci, Prada and Max Mara.
• Via Frattina (Gente, Pollini, Versace, Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti).
• On Via del Corso, alongside century-old shops (such as Radiconcini which sells men’s hats and classic accessories), there are a variety of megastores that sell everything from leather goods to athletic wear and casual clothing.

Some information for shopping lovers

VALENTINO – Valentino opened his first atelier in Rome in Via Condotti, and hit success and is one of the cinema world’s famous designers: stars such as Liz Taylor, Joan Collins, Julia Roberts and Claudia Cardinale wear his creations at gala evenings such as the Night of the Oscars. LAURA BIAGIOTTI – so-called the “Queen of Cashmere”, is famous for her fine cashmere knitwear and for her frequent use of the white colour in her creations. FENDI – This maison was set up in 1925 in Rome as a fur coat and leather goods shop. Later, the five Fendi sisters created the label that is famous worldwide. GAI MATTIOLO – Born in 1968 in Roma, he began his career as a fashion designer very early and is now one of the most popular “young” names in fashion.GIORGIO ARMANI – Understated and elegant, the Armani woman is unmistakably always at ease.

Delicately strong day-wear and evening designs inevitably leave a memorable mark. CHANEL - Exclusive maison of style’s spacious quarters near the chic Piazza di Spagna, featuring accessories, perfume, jewellery, watches and the luxurious prêt-a-porter collections.

The most prestigious antique shops are in Via Margutta, Via del Corso, and contemporary designers and stylists are in Via del Babuino.

Accommodation

• Campo de fiori apartments
• Navona Apartments

Shopping in Rome: VIA DEL GOVERNO VECCHIO / NAVONA

Via del Governo Vecchio is a tiny street accross Corso Vittorio Emanuele and behind Piazza Navona. This is the place where all the new trendiest designers want to open a shop. You can find stores like S.B.U, Luna & L’Altra, Josephine de Huertas & Company, which sells bright, irreverent shirt dresses and candy-hued blouse.

They are also the exclusive seller of Paul Smith Women in

Wonderful antique shops are also located in both Via dei Coronari and Via Giulia, the street behind Palazzo Farnese. This latter street, situated between the Palazzo and the Tiber River, is filled with shops containing extensive selections of antique furniture and art, making it one of the most fascinating streets in Rome. Generally all the shops are open from 9 am (9:30 in the center city) to 1pm and from 4 pm to 7.30 pm.

Always open (from 10am until midnight) is the gorgeous shoe and jewels shop diSanGiacomo (Via di Tor Millina, 10/11). They make fab and unique handmade jewels and sandals with jewels produced in the workshop just behind the shop!
Recently listed by the Guardian amongst the 10 best shop in Rome:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/jul/13/10-best-shops-rome?intcmp=239

Rome Through a Keyhole

High up on the Aventine hill, just a minute’s walk from the beautiful Parco Degli Aranci, which features one of the most breathtaking views of Rome (see above), the keyhole can be difficult to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for. There is an ordinary-looking green door at the top of the hill -  if you go during high tourist season there are bound to be some tourists hanging around – and the keyhole itself is rather small, but you’ll get a perfectly-framed, unobstructed view of the cupola, or dome, of St. Peter’s basilica. For obvious reasons, the view is more impressive on clear days.

Baccalà near Campo di Fiori

Any visitor to Rome will discover early on that the local cuisine is exceptional. Pasta and pizza never disappoint, but there is a whole range of uniquely Roman dishes that you may not come across elsewhere. Among them is baccalà, a kind of salted cod that is covered in batter and deep-fried. Originally a Judeo-Roman dish, baccalà may sound like your average fish from a fish and chip shop, but the taste is a world apart. For the best baccalà in Rome, try Filetti di Baccalà near Campo di Fiori (Via dei Giubbonari). The fish always tastes fresh and the batter is crisped to perfection. For just 4.50 euros you can by one filetto (a fillet) to take away. They come steaming hot and wrapped in a paper cone just like at a traditional English fish and chip shop.

The Protestant Cemetery

A cemetery may be an unconventional place to voluntarily spend an afternoon, but the Protestant (or, more accurately, non-Catholic) cemetery in Rome is a surprisingly pleasant spot to escape from the noise and chaos of the city for a couple of hours. Backing onto the Pyramid of Cestius, the cemetery is the resting place of a number of notable foreign writers and artists, including John Keats, Percy Byshe Shelly (both of whom died in Italy) and the Beat poet Gregory Corso. It’s fascinating to walk around and read the numerous gravestones, many with famous names and a few with touching epitaphs, but primarily it’s just a nice peaceful place to relax or read a book when the sun’s shining and you’re unlikely to see many people around.

Caravaggio in Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi

Rome may have a number of notable art galleries, but the city’s best feature is its wealth of churches that is unrivalled by any other city. Many of the most unobtrusive-looking churches house paintings and frescoes from the great masters. The popular Galleria Borghese may have the largest number of Caravaggios in Rome, but what many visitors to the city don’t know is that the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi near the Pantheon houses a series of his paintings, located in the fifth chapel on the left, that tell the story of St. Matthew: “Vocazione”, “Il Martirio” and “San Matteo e l’angelo.” The church is currently being restored so the entire facade is covered in scaffolding, making it easy to miss in the big piazza. If it’s high-season, it is a good idea to go early in the morning because there may be a queue at the entrance.

Gregorian Chant at Sant’Anselmo

The Church of Sant’Anselmo All’Aventino in Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta is attached to a monastery and college. Visible from most of Aventino and from across the river in Trastevere, it is worth a visit for the spectacular view of the city from the atrium and the impressive architecture. Every evening at 7.15 the monks gather in the church to perform a ritual Gregorian chant. Anyone can observe, but for the most part the audience consists of nuns and other clerics, some of whom join in with the chanting. The performance lasts about 45 minutes but there’s no obligation to stay to the end. A gift shop on the premises  sells products, ranging from beer to candles, produced by monks.

Coffee at Sant’Eustachio

Italian coffee is legendary worldwide, but to those in the know there are a select few brands that stand out from the rest. Perhaps the most prestigious of these is Sant’Eustachio coffee. More expensive than its famous counterpart, Tazza d’Oro, the coffee sold here is arguably among the best in the world. The coffee-makers are shielded by screens so that you can’t observe the baristas carry out the top-secret process, enhancing the impression of prestige. If you prefer your coffee bitter be sure to ask for it “non zuccherato” (without sugar) because the sugar tends to be pre-blended with the coffee. Their frappé al caffé, perfect on hot summer days, is the closest you’ll come to a frappuccino in Rome and definitely superior to the American version.

Find a great list of our favorites where you’ll find the best gelato in Roma.

GELATERIE IN ROME:

Gelateria “Fassi”: via Principe Eugenio, 65/67
Near Termini station, amongst the biggest and most famous gelaterias of Rome.

Gelateria “San Crispino”: Via della Panetteria 42.
Near the Trevi Fountain, (there is also a location on Via Acaia, 56 outside the walls). Closed Tuesday. Some think this is the finest gelateria in Rome. Yes, it is wonderful, with intense flavors. No cones, only cups. Try the special favor zabaione (kind of like eggnog) made by 50-year barrel-aged Marsala … unmissable…. You may also want to try other San Crispino flavors such as fruits, nuts, or the licorice! The ultimate!

Gelateria “Da Giolitti”: Via Uffici dei Vicario 40. Near the Pantheon.
Excellent gelato but too many flavors to choose from cones and cups to go, or sit in a real ice cream parlor room in back for mountainous sundaes. Be ready to queue… as the place is always crowded, especially at night. Nice ice-cream parlor you can sit at and savor your gelato but be prepared to pay double. Wonderful the rich and creamy marron glacé (chestnut) flavor.

Gelateria “Pellacchia”: - Via Cola di Rienzo, 111

Italian Ice Cream flavours

ACE- Orange carrot and lemon
After Eight- Mint Creme
Albicocca- Apricot
Amarena- Cherry
Ananas-Pineapple
Anguria- Watermelon
Arancia- Orange
Bacio-Chocolate hazelnut
Banana
Biscotto-Biscotti
Caffe- Coffee
Cassata- Cream with dried fruit and dark chocolate chunks
Champagne
Cioccolato-Chocolate
Cioccolato Bianco- White Chocolate
Cioccomenta- Chocolate Mint
Cocco- Coconut
Cocomero-Watermelon
Cubana- Chocolate Cream with Coffee
Eolie- Cherry and nuts
Fichi- Fig
Fiore di Fragola- strawberry vanilla
Fior di Latte- Cream
Fior di Panna- Cream
Formaggio- Cheesecake
Fragola- Strawberry
Frutti di Bosco- Mixed Fruit
Gianduia- Chocolate and hazelnut
Kiwi
Lampone-Raspberry
Limoncello
Limone- Lemon
Liquirizia- Liquorice
Malaga- Rum Raisin
Malt whisky- Whisky
Mango
Marron Glace- Chestnut
Mascarpone-Cream cheese
Mela Verde- Green apple
Melone-Cantalope
Meringa- Meringue (with little crunchy meringue chips)
Mirtillo- Blueberry
Mora- Blackberry
Nutella- Nutella
Nocciola- Hazelnut
Noce- Walnut
Pera- Pear
Pesca- Peach
Pinoli- Pine nut
Pistacchio- Pistachio
Pompelmo Rosa- Pink grapefruit
Riso- Rice
Stracciatella- Choc chip
Tiramisu
Torroncino- Nougat
Vaniglia- Vanilla
Visciola- Visciola
Yogurt
Zabaione- Eggs and marsala
Zuppa Inglese- Trifle cherrie and chocolate

Bush will arrive in Rome on Friday evening from Poland, which he will briefly visit after taking part in the Group of Eight summit in Germany.

His Rome trip, which ends on Sunday morning, will include talks with centre-left Premier Romano Prodi and President Giorgio Napolitano and a visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Benedict XVI.

Italian pacifists and other demonstrators are planning a massive anti-Bush protest which is expected to draw thousands of supporters from across the country.

Some 8,000 extra police will be on duty amid fears that violent militants could infiltrate the demo.

Security officials are particularly concerned that militants known as the ‘black block’ could move down to Rome after taking part in anti-G8 protests in Germany.

The black block were blamed for the violence which marred a demonstration in the German port city of Rostock on Saturday, close to the resort of Heiligendamm where G8 leaders will meet from Wednesday to Friday.

More than 1,000 people were injured in clashes between police and protesters in what was the worst street violence seen in Germany for years.

Security will be stepped up along Italy’s frontiers and ports in a bid to prevent potentially violent activists entering the country from Germany, Austria, Spain, Greece and France.

But organisers of the Rome anti-Bush protest insist the event will be peaceful and have accused security officials of trying to discredit their march by creating unnecessary alarm.

“This is a mass pacifist rally. It won’t be another Rostock,” the organisers told journalists on Tuesday.

The demo is supported by some 200 anti-war organisations ranging from trade unions and student groups to activists angry at the expansion of a US military base in the northern city of Vicenza.

The march will kick off at 15:00 on Saturday afternoon and wind its way through the city centre to a famed square, Piazza Navona.

Meanwhile, the main concern for security officials is a planned trip by Bush on Saturday to the picturesque neighbourhood of Trastevere in the heart of Rome where he intends to visit one of the city’s oldest churches, Santa Maria in Trastevere.

The US president is also slated to visit the nearby headquarters of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic organisation known for its mediation efforts in international conflicts.

But Trastevere is a maze of small streets, squares and alleys, making security particularly difficult.

Police are considering setting up a temporary, 10-metre-long tunnel near the Trastevere church which will allow the Bush delegation to travel through the area in greater safety.

Access to the neighbourhood will be blocked on Saturday and rubbish bins and manholes sealed.

Security has already been tightened at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, where Bush will be touching down on Friday aboard the presidential plane Air Force One.

Helicopter gunships will be deployed during Bush’s stay, when air traffic over the city will be limited.

Bush will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, who will join her husband on his trips to the Vatican and Santa Maria in Trastevere.

At the end of his official appointments on Saturday, Bush will meet up with opposition chief and former premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Berlusconi was a close ally of the president during his five years as premier (2001-2006) and was described as an “old friend” by a White House spokesman on Monday.

VISIT COMES AFTER TENSIONS BETWEEN ALLIES.

Bush’s trip comes after tensions between Rome and Washington over foreign policy and other issues.

America was among allies who criticised Italy over its handling of a recent hostage crisis in Afghanistan which ended after five Taliban prisoners were released in exchange for the life of an Italian journalist.

Another source of friction is the case of Nicola Calipari, an Italian secret agent killed in March 2005 in a controversial ‘friendly fire’ roadblock incident in Iraq.

A US soldier has just gone on trial in Italy in absentia accused of murdering Calipari.

The Italian courts are also about to open a trial against 26 CIA operatives accused of kidnapping a Muslim cleric in Milan in February 2003.

The trial would be the first judicial examination of America’s controversial rendition policy, the abduction of terrorism suspects in one country in order to have them interrogated in another.

Plans to expand the American military base in Vicenza have also sparked tensions, drawing fierce protests from city residents and leftist elements in Prodi’s coalition.

The incidents have however done nothing to dent the firm ties between Italy and the US, officials stress.

The lifts lead to the Terrazza delle Quadrighe, a walkway between the two biggest attractions on the monument, a pair of bronze chariots driven by winged Victories.

“We find ourselves in one of the most extraordinary places in the world,” said Italian President Giorgio Napolitano as he unveiled the newly restored walkway ahead of its debut for Republic Day on June 2. “This panoramic terrace was always supposed to be open,” said Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli. “Then, unfortunately, they forgot about it. People only got up here when the unknown soldier’s body was brought here in 1921 and for the inauguration of the chariots in 1927″. “Now all that has changed, thanks to the project launched by (then) President (Carlo Azeglio) Ciampi in 2002″. “The view takes your breath away. It’s better than the Eiffel Tower,” he said.

The new elevators can whisk 12 people at a time, and 720 per hour, up to the terrace, which boasts one of the finest views of Rome. It costs seven euros a head – but visitors can choose to climb up the 196 steps from the highest terrace hitherto available, the
Terrazza della Caffetteria, at no charge.

Ciampi had the Terrazza della Caffetteria opened five years ago when he threw the long-closed monument open to the public amid a drive to stir more patriotism in Italians.

The Victor Emanuel Monument, or Vittoriano, was designed in 1885 and completed in 1935 as a tribute to the king under whom Italian reunification was achieved in the 19th century. Derided by architects because of its pomposity and overornamentation, it is a favourite with tourists. Romans have various nicknames for it including the Wedding Cake, the False Teeth and the Zuppa Inglese.

In 1941, the Allied troops who freed Rome dubbed it the Typewriter another nickname that has stuck.