Whether you’re looking for the ultimate retail therapy locations in Italy or simply want to get your shopping done in one place, the top department stores have everything you could need under one roof. From fashionable attire to cosmetics, kitchenware to furniture, you can peruse and purchase all the leading brands in Italy’s largest department stores. As well as covering all your household needs, many of Italy’s department stores also have on-site eateries and food halls where you can do your groceries or stop for a cup of coffee and a snack.
What Is A Department Store?
A department store is a retail establishment that is made up of numerous departments, each specializing in a particular category, such as women’s wear, men’s wear, home goods, jewelry, food, furniture, electronics, beauty, cosmetics and more. Department stores provide customers with an easy, one-stop solution for the majority of their shopping needs.
Department stores often have their own restaurants, cafes, bars, and also provide services such as tailoring, watch repairs and even offer personal shoppers for their customers. You can find department stores in all of Italy’s major cities and they can either be free-standing establishments in their own right or located within a large shopping mall.
The Best Department Stores In Rome.
The following are the best department stores in Rome:
This legendary Roman department store has a huge range of clothing for men, women and children, as well as accessories, beauty products and cosmetics. You can also purchase leading brands of homeware, luggage, travel items, seasonal products, gifts and toys for children of all ages. There’s a lovely up-market food section with local and international cuisine and the complex includes several restaurants, cafes and even a bar. This means you can have a quick snack to rest your feet during a big shopping trip or even enjoy a full meal with friends or family on any day of the week.
Located in central Rome, Coin is a popular department store with locals and tourists alike. The multi-storey complex sells all the top brand names for sportswear, casual wear and formal attire for men and women. The store also has a great section for toddlers and a large toy display.
The store has an extensive homeware department that sells everything you need for your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and lounge, as well as fantastic gifts for the special people in your life. In the home decor department, you can browse curtains, bedding, cushions, furniture and eclectic decorative accessories. If you’re shopping on a budget the store has an outlet section where you can pick up some great deals.
The Coin department store has on-site parking for customers, a beauty salon, tailoring services, a restaurant, and offers home delivery for furniture and other purchases. And for those who may need a little extra help, Coin even offers personal shoppers for its customers.
The Best Department Stores In Milan.
The following are the best department stores in Milan:
Rinascente Milano.
This beautiful department store in a prime Milanese location is an iconic shopping destination in the city center. The 10-story department store has a contemporary atmosphere where shoppers can find exclusive fashion for men and women as well as the best in home decor, food and trend-setting design. There are also beauty, cosmetics, gifts, lingerie and much more to discover in the opulent Milanese department store.
Rinascente sources prestigious brands as well as emerging Italian designers, allowing shoppers to browse timeless garments and modern, cutting-edge trending items. On the 7th floor, you can explore the Food Market and once you’ve finished your shopping you can drop by one of the 9 restaurants and bars in the complex, including the Juice Bar, Maio Restaurant, Be Steak and My Sushi. Rinascente is an ideal option for late-night shoppers too because the store is open until midnight, 7 days a week.
The Brian and Barry Building is an ultra-stylish department store that offers customers an enchanting vertical shopping experience that includes luxury fashion, home decor, jewelry, gifts, a gourmet food hall and a delightful rooftop terrace, complete with terrace and lounge. There are more than 100 top brands on offer, for men and women, as well as lots of budget options.
The store’s floors are divided into categories so you can go straight to the men’s floor, the women’s floor or the jewelry floor, stopping off at the on-site Starbucks along the way. Of course, no visit to The Brian And Barry Building would be complete without seeing the rooftop terrace. The rooftop terrace boasts spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of the city where you can sip a cocktail while enjoying some finger snacks with your friends or family.
The Best Department Stores In Venice.
The following are the best department stores in Venice:
Quite possibly the most elegant department store in all of Italy, if not the entire world, T Fondaco dei Tedeschi combines stunning art and design with an amazing shopping experience. Situated in a historic building on the banks of the Grand Canal, just a stone’s throw from the famous Rialto Bridge, the department store sells a superb range of the finest brands as well as jewelry, watches and more.
The store also operates an unbeatable range of services including personal shopping and styling, guided tours, watch and jewelry services, tailoring and beauty consulting. Lastly, make sure you stop off at the rooftop terrace to savor the magnificent views of the Grand Canal and Venice before taking in one of the art exhibitions in the store.
OVS in Venice is a mid-range department store that sells a great selection of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, as well as kitchen accessories, bedding, cosmetics and beauty products. OVS sells a broad spectrum of brands for all ages, with everything from beach wear to formal attire, jeans to sportswear, shoes, and everything in between. The staff are super friendly and always ready to help out so if you can’t find something just ask! The prices in OVS are very reasonable and the store is easily accessible using the city’s public transport.
The Best Department Stores In Florence.
The following are the best department stores in Venice:
UPIM Florence Cimabue sells an excellent range of medium-to-high-end brands and is conveniently located in the city center. With large collections of clothes for men, women, children and newborns, the store also specializes in perfumes, cosmetics and beauty products. The homeware section provides superb value for money and stocks kitchen accessories, bedding and other home decor solutions. Parking near the store can be a little tricky sometimes but it’s still easy to reach the store using local public transport.
Selling all the top brands under one roof, Rinascente Firenze celebrates the sartorial and artisan heritage of the ancient Renaissance city. The lower floors include on-site leatherworking and goldsmithing workshops while upstairs you can explore the latest women’s and men’s fashion, children’s clothes, shoes and accessories such as sunglasses.
The store also includes a beauty and cosmetics hall and above, on the 4th storey, you can browse the Craft Gallery which is packed full of beautiful home decor and accessories. After you’ve done your shopping you can stop off for some authentic Tuscan or international cuisine on the rooftop while admiring the views of the Florentine spires as you enjoy your food with a few drinks.
Italy Has Decent Department Stores.
Italy does not have the kind of department stores or shopping malls like those of the United States or many Asian nations. Italians have been slow, in general, to embrace the concept of the department store, often preferring to shop in smaller, local stores instead. However, in recent decades this trend has been changing and now all of Italy’s major cities have a few top-quality department stores, including some truly spectacular establishments, such as the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi, which is as much an art gallery as it is a retail store. This is great news for locals and Expats alike, who can do a great deal of their shopping under one roof and browse all of the leading brands without having to go from one store to another on the high street.
