Are there queues in Roman shops?

Breathtaking fountains, gloomy Coliseum, the magnificent Saint Peter's Basilica, ruins of the Roman Forum... Oh, no, this is not the complete list of things worth seeing in the Eternal city! However, having spent some time enjoying the historic attractions of Rome, you are finally tired of it. This is when you want to go back down to earth and do something typical, like shopping.

Well, don't be ashamed of your “earthly” desires. Mind that Italy is one of the best European countries to shop in, so it is really hard to stand the temptation.

So, you are in Rome. First thing to do is to go straight to Via Condotti and the streets next to the Piazza di Spagna. There are famous designer boutiques (Armani, Gucci, Bulgari, Cartier) all around. Why not get in, if you can afford it? Then let's have a walk down Via del Corso, which connects Piazza Venezia with Piazza del Popolo and its famous Egyptian obelisk, known as the obelisco Flaminio. Via del Corso is the main shopping street in Rome, from where streets with hundreds of stores radiate. Cheap shops stand side by side with boutiques, but even the most expensive of them are not as expensive as one might think. Don't forget that the street gets really crowded in the evening, and there might be traffic jams.

However, if you are not hunting for well-known brands and labels, go to the Termini railway station. Many Italians don't like it as being too “coarse” for historic centre. On the right there is Santa Maria degli Angeli church – one of the world's oldest, on the left - Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore – one of the six biggest basilicas in Rome. The place might seem a bit gloomy, but the prices are lower than those in the city centre.

Some tourists are looking for souvenirs for their relatives, nearest and dearest. If you are one of those and need to buy lots of things, there is one fantastic place for you. Every Sunday lots of Romans head to Porto Portese street market, which is really easy to find: its is located at the Piramide station, crowds of people go there so you won't miss it. Porto Portese is a true heaven for those who like “leisurely” shopping and bargaining. Things that will cost you a fortune in the city centre will definitely be cheap at the market. Though you are never safe from counterfeits. Other advantage of Porto Portese is that it gives you a chance to communicate with locals. Besides, its really “democratic” - everything can be touched or tried on. Plus to this, there are lots of snack bars selling pizzas, fish and hot dogs. But beware of pickpockets! Still, one could say that Porto Portese is the largest “department store” in Rome.

But all in all, there are relatively few department stores in Rome. As a rule, when you are looking for an English-speaking local, you can't find one. That is why one good advise for you is to prepare for a visit to Rome and learn names of some department stores. One popular chain of stores is La Rinascente, but prices are rather high. Standa and Upim sell things at moderate prices. Also remember such shopping malls as Cinecittà Due Centro Commerciale, which contains about 100 stores, banks bars and restaurants, and the Granai, which is even bigger.

Pay attention to the signs which say “sconti” and “saldi”, which mean discounts and sales, and especially to the shops with draped windows – this means that the shop is closing and sells its goods at high discounts, which sometimes rise up to 70 and 80 %. As for the question above – well, speaking of shops like this, don't believe those who say that there are no queues in Rome: having encountered a shop with big discounts, you might have to queue for hours.