Shopping

Shops are usually open in the morning from 9am to 12:30pm, and from 4pm to 7:30pm. Some places may be closed on Wednesdays, so call before you go or ask your hotel concierge.

Montecatini:
Montecatini has lots of shops that sell "important" clothes. Especially in the downtown there are several shops selling big designers like Armani, Valentino and so on. But pay attention because Montecatini is an expensive place where lots of tourist come so the prices tend to be a little high.

Siena:
Siena is filled with one-of-a-kind boutiques and shops at every corner, but you'll want to stroll along three main pedestrian streets for sure: Via di Citta, Banchi di Sopra and Via Dei Montanini. Styles range from trendy to classic. You'll find a gelateria, pizza shop or bar between every few shops , so you can stop for gelato or food breaks between browsing.
Besides shops, there is an open air market held at the La Lizza (at the Fortezza) every Wednesday from 8 AM to around 1 PM. You can find stylish clothing, house- wares or "do as the Italians do," and shop for fruits, vegetables and Italian cheeses.

Chianciano:
Good for street shopping featuring outdoor markets and inexpensive prices. Good for souvenir shopping.

Florence:
Most visitors interested in gold or silver jewelry head for the Ponte Vecchio and its tiny shops. If you're looking for a charm or souvenir, these shops are fine. But the heyday of finding gold jewelry bargains on the Ponte Vecchio is long gone. The street for antiques is Via Maggio: some of the furnishings and objects d'art here are from the 16th century.

Florence's Fifth Avenue is Via dei Tornabuoni, the place to head for the best quality leather goods, for the best clothing boutiques, and for stylish but costly shoes. Here you'll find everyone from Armani, Gucci, Versace, Coveri, to Ferragamo. Besides shops, Florence is rich in open-air markets. The Market of san Lorenzo, situated in the center of the city, is the preferred destination of tourists.

At the Flea Market, near Piazza Santa Croce, one can make good deals on small antique items. The last Sunday of every month except July, the market expands into the adjacent streets.

Rome:
Like the city, shopping in Rome is varied. For the most part though, Rome's shops seem to cater to a more egalitarian crowd than the other major cities. The city’s most exclusive and high-end boutiques reside within a stone's throw of the famous Spanish Steps. These shops, like the high percentage of those found in the famous shopping districts of Italy, are designed for the obscenely wealthy.

Rome is full of remnants of the past - from the ruins to the art to the ancient cathedrals and town squares – and the shopping is no different, with a vast accumulation of antiques awaiting your perusal. The interminable street of Via del Corso is a focal point of any Italy shopping tour, and contains a number of chic boutiques (and plenty of less-chic ones for the budget conscious) that cater mostly to the vibrant Roman youth. Rome also has the widest selection of neighborhood markets, where you can casually peruse everything from fresh fruit to handcrafted goods.