Following the success of and in our latest blog entry we would like to introduce you to some shops that are worth visiting at least once during your visit to Rome. It may be a cliché to say so, but Rome is not just about ancient history. The city is also home to some truly prestigious artisan stores that represent the excellence of Italian manufacturing tradition.

These are not just simple retail outlets: in some cases, time really seems to have stood still, and shopping here becomes a real exploration!

Founded in the year 1798, Gammarelli is a historic tailor’s shop that has dressed popes, cardinals, and other prelates for over two centuries. Here, generations of master tailors have made garments for the most solemn moments of the Catholic Church.

What to buy: Obviously, cassocks and vestments may not be on the average tourist’s shopping list, but Gammarelli’s famous purple or red socks are an affordable and decidedly unique purchase. These socks, identical to those worn by Vatican prelates, are of extraordinary quality and make an original gift or a curious souvenir from Rome. Pocket squares and some simpler ecclesiastical accessories are also (needless to say!) highly prized.

Changing neighborhood but still very much on topic, a few steps from St. Peter’s is the Arellano company. This small workshop gained international fame for making Pope Benedict XVI’s red shoes, but it has continued to serve the Vatican ever since.

What to buy: Although custom-made shoes require time and a considerable investment (check the store’s website!),the shop also offers ready-made ecclesiastical footwear and slippers or elegant shoes made to the same quality standards reserved for the Vatican.

Via della Fontanella Borghese, 29 – Historic Center

Founded in 1870, this fabric and home linen store has seen a surge in international populerity recently, as its elegant cotton pajamas have taken TikTok by storm.

What to buy: Schostal’s pajamas are the ultimate purchase. However, for an equally interesting alternative, check out competitor Tebro (Via dei Prefetti, 46-50), located near the Parliament.

Piazza de’ Ricci, 23/24 – Campo de’ Fiori

A few minutes from Campo de’ Fiori, the three seamstresses who give the shop its name recycle vintage fabrics, haute couture scraps, and forgotten fabrics to create unique garments and bags that you will never find anywhere else.

What to buy: Bags and clothing. If you are looking for something truly special, workshops are organized where you can design bags that will then be sewn in the shop.

Via degli Scipioni, 46 – Prati

Located in the Prati district, this workshop-shop is the temple of Italian handmade hats. Here, the creations are strictly hand-shaped. Patrizia Fabri, the current owner, continues the tradition with the same passion as the founders. Each hat requires days of work and goes through numerous stages of shaping, ironing, and finishing.

What to buy: Prices reflect the quality of the craftsmanship, but a handmade hat is an investment that will last a lifetime. Another branch of this store is located on Via dell’Oca, a stone’s throw from Piazza del Popolo.

In the heart of Via dei Coronari, one of the most charming streets in Rome’s historic center, you will find this artisan perfumery workshop, which represents the excellence of contemporary olfactory creation made in Rome. Here, Laura Bosetti Tonatto, perfumer and fragrance creator, has created a space where perfumery becomes art.

What to buy: Personalized fragrances are the pride and joy of the shop: you can work directly with Laura to create a unique perfume that reflects your personality. However, these are not the only products on sale: you will also find scented candles and body and face products, for an all-round olfactory souvenir of Rome.

Since 1948, Vertecchi has been a reference point for artists, architects, students, and lovers of quality stationery. This store has several outlets, but we have chosen to highlight the one with the longest history.

We know we cannot be the only ones who look for stationery stores when we travel! Here, the shelves are literally overflowing with potential purchases, from fine papers to hand-bound notebooks, from sketchbooks to every possible tool for expressing creativity.

What to buy: The only limit is your imagination, but we would start with a travel journal, now that they are very much back in fashion.

Via del Vantaggio, 35 – Piazza del Popolo

Founded in 1818 in France, Litografia Bulla has been one of Rome’s most fascinating cultural institutions since it moved to the Eternal City in 1840.

The interior of the shop is a blast from the past: antique presses, original lithographic stones, drawers full of historical engravings, and walls covered with views of Rome from the 18th century to the present day. The owners have preserved not only the technical tradition of lithography, but also an extraordinary archive of original matrices and vintage prints.

Each piece is made using traditional methods, employing the same processes that were used when Goethe visited Rome and Grand Tour travelers sought views of the city to take home as souvenirs.

What to buy: You can find reproductions of Piranesi’s engravings, 18th- and 19th-century views of Roman monuments, and ancient maps of the city. The prints are available both as modern reproductions and as original vintage pieces (at different prices, of course). For a special gift, you might consider a view of your favorite monument, printed on vintage paper.

Visiting these shops takes time and a different approach from regular shopping. Many of these shops maintain traditional opening hours, with afternoon closures and Sundays off, which are always strictly observed. Always Google the name of the business before visiting to check the opening hours.

Also, remember that you are entering places where craftsmanship and tradition are fundamental values: take the time to talk to the owners and shop assistants, who often have fascinating stories to tell. You will come away with an even greater appreciation for their work (even without buying anything!).