Italy In SF

Welcome back to Italy in San Francisco’s cheat sheet for Italy. Today we’re talking about shopping- enjoy the list! If you’d like a personalized crash-course on Italian culture before your trip, please contact me at vanessa at Italyinsf dot com. I would be happy to schedule a time to help you out with your trip organization as well as give you some useful tips about culture and traditions!

Part 2: SHOPPING AND STORES

19. When walking into a store, especially clothing or shoes, in most cases you will have a shop assistant with you at all times. Sometimes you won’t be allowed to even touch the things unless you’re trying them on! The assistant will find your size and do all the work.
20. If you enter a store to just to take a look, make sure your intentions are known to the person inside the shop. Ask if you can just look around without being hassled by a shop assistant trying to make a sale!
21. The rudeness and bitchiness of Italian shop assistants, or commesse, is legendary, especially if you’re not a size 0. They apparently consider a size 4 “overweight”. Don’t take it personally.
22. On the upside, though, shop assistants are not paid on commission. Feel free to abuse them- they probably deserve it anyway!!
23. Store exchanges don’t exist. If you buy something and decide later you don’t want it anymore, you’re stuck with it. Choose carefully!
24. Clearance sales in regular shops Italy are not very good- usually a 10%, 20% at the very most.
25. Shops close for lunch between 12:30pm and 3 or 4pm. Everything shuts down by 7:30pm.
26. Ask your local hotel for outlets stores. Outlet stores will have items priced at a more discounted rate.
27. Buy shoes in Italy. Even with the dreadful Euro/Dollar exchange, leather shoes will last you for years and they’re really good for your feet!
28. In larger cities and metropolitan areas stores are open on Saturday but closed on Sunday, and another half day of the week. In touristic resorts stores are open Sunday but closed one other day of the week.
29. Banks are only open in the morning and for one hour in the afternoon. You need to bank in the morning!
30. National Holidays:
    • January 1st, New Year’s Day
    • January 6th, Epiphany
    • Easter Sunday
    • Easter Monday
    • April 25th, Anniversary of Italy’s liberation
    • May 1st, Labor Day
    • June 2nd, Anniversary of the institution of the Republic
    • August 15th (Ferragosto), Assumption
    • November 1st, All Saints
    • December 8th, Annunciazione
    • December 25th, Christmas
    • December 26th, St Stefano.

    In addition, each town will honor its patron with an additional day off.

31. You have to wear plastic gloves to pick up food in the produce section of the grocery store or old ladies will yell at you.
32. You bag your own groceries and pay for the bag.

If you missed it: 

Part 1: General Travel Tips
Part 2: Shopping and Stores
Part 3: Food and Drinks
Part 4: Culture
Part 5: Driving and Moving Around

Part 3 will be all about food and drinks customs, habits, and traditions. Stay tuned!

Filed under: Culinary Culture