shopping in rome
Indoroman, Photo By Miguel Flores-Vianna, May 2008
- Rome Shops
- When fashion designer Soledad Twombly landed in Rome—by way of Buenos Aires and New York—she found inspiration in artisanal shops, bohemian neighborhoods and pagan monuments. She gives us an untouristy tour of the Eternal City.
- Ditta G. Poggi
- Via del Gesù
74/75
39-06-679-3674 All the big artists come here for supplies; the special pigments are famous. I go for the small paintbrushes, which I use for makeup! The original store dates to 1825, and I think its history made it appealing to people like Balthus and Giorgio de Chirico.
- Federico Polidori
- Via Piè di Marmo
7
39-06-679-7191 Opened in 1979, this workshop for leather goods carries beautifully crafted handbags and luggage. Polidori's wares have hand-stitching that a machine just can't mimic. You really feel you're getting something unique.
- Galleria Akka
- Via Piè di Marmo
13/14
39-06-679-2066 In addition to antique textiles from such places as Turkey, Persia, Turkmenistan and China, this truly global shop has one-of-a-kind objets d'art from Africa.
- Indoroman
- Via Gregoriana 36
39-06-6919-0908 The finest sarti (tailors) practiced their trade on the street called Via Gregoriana. My aunt, Gaia Franchetti, owns this fabric and linens store here, and the handmade textiles she selects are based on those of ancient Italy, Persia and India—all in rich, colorful materials.
- Said dal 1923
- Via Tiburtina
135
39-06-446-9204 You can't leave Rome without visiting this storied chocolate factory. It's in the San Lorenzo neighborhood, which is where all my artist friends live and work. Said has been around since 1923, and it produces every kind of chocolate, from milk to whiskey-infused. I stick to very dark— 70 to 80 percent cacao. It's good for you!
- Via Giulia 95 di Assieh Meneghini
- Via Giulia
95
39-06-6889-2898 Owner Tim Hobby started out as an interior designer and still operates his business out of this store. His 10,000-square-foot showroom is a vision of modernity unlike anything else in the city, with a focus on Italian brands like Cassina, plus well-chosen vintage and accessories like Venini glass.
