Where to Buy Capri Pants on Capri

Yes, Capri pants really did originate on the island of Capri. Perhaps they were invented to make hopping from your yacht to the dock a little less hazardous. The place to buy them is La Parisienne in Piazza Umberto 1 (#7). Jackie Onassis bought them by the dozen here and Audrey Hepburn made La Parisienne's cropped pants part of her iconic style. Get them in classic white and wear them with big shades for that true casual Italian holiday look. (They even do custom orders!)

The Saldi Calendar

After months of searching, I have finally found what appears to be a calendar of Italy's summer sale season. The website which has published the calendar, pricesharing.it, claims to be an on-line consumer review organization. Where they got their information, they do not say. But so far it's the only Saldi calendar I have seen on the web, so I'll take it. Rome starts its Saldi on July 4th, Venice on July 5th, and Florence on July 12th. The discounts on this season's fashions will be considerable, so be sure to save your Euros for some stylish new Italian clothes!

Stay Up Late Reading

What to do if you can't sleep in Rome? Hit Via Veneto Libreria (owned by the local independent chain of bookstores, Arion), which is open until midnight on weekends. The massive store has a coffee shop and a great selection of foreign language books, including English. Yes, you can probably think of 100 things to do at night in Rome, but you never know when you'll need Henry James, do you? Via Veneto 42.

Ferragamo's Celebrity Handbag Auction to Benefit Abruzzo

Ferragamo and GlobalGiving.com have put a collection of handbags donated by celebrities (Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria, to name a few) on eBay. All proceeds go directly to benefit the Abruzzo region, which was devastated by an earthquake earlier this year. At last check, Madonna's Sophia bag was going for $2,235. Read more about it on eternallycool.net. Want to donate to the cause but aren't interested in fashion? GlobalGiving.com has an Italy Earthquake Relief Fund that you can donate to anytime you want.

How to Get Your Italian Fashion Fix On-line

Italian style is bold, whimsical and elegant. Not only are the designers unique, but the way that Italians put themselves together is so different from the rest of the fashion world. But where can you go to get your Italian fashion fix? Sei di Moda, DWeb and Velvet are three fashion websites connected to La Repubblica, Italy's premier newspaper. They will tell you all about the latest trends in Italy, give you updates on the fashion shows in Milan, and alert you to the important fashion events in Italy (like Saldi!). They will also clue you in to Italian gossip, home design and beauty. Of course, it's all in Italian, but the pictures can tell you more than enough!

Venice Glassmaking Made Clear

Venice has been the home of the world's best glassblowers for centuries. But which glassmakers should you visit when you are in Venice? Here are a few that you will enjoy, with prices ranging from accessible to fantastical! Giberto Arrivabene makes glass according to the traditions of the aristocracy, and you can find his works at Chiarastella Cattana in Piazza San Marco and also at Emporio Le Sirenuse in Positano. Carlo Moretti brings a modern and colorful touch to assymetrical pieces that you can buy all over the world, even in the United States. Marie Brandolini designs tumblers and serveware incorporating the famous Venetian glass beads (pictured). Giordana Naccari's colorful and organic shapes evoke the past-with a funky point of view. Visit her shop, L'Angolo del Passato at Campiello dei Squelini.

Angels and Demons Walking Tour

Tomorrow is the big day-Angels and Demons opens all over the U.S.! If you are headed to Rome, you can take a walking tour of the major sites. For $74 per person, Viator will take you to the famous and not so famous places mentioned in Dan Brown's book. They will even read some of the passages aloud at a few sites to truly bring the book to life. If a guided tour (that costs money!) is not your idea of chasing down Angels and Demons, talk a walking tour by yourself. MSNBC has created an Angels and Demons 48 Hour Itinerary that you can follow on your own. They even recommend restaurants and shopping, like TAD department store, along the way. Diverti te!

Sicily's City of Pottery

Italian pottery is famous for its unique designs and lively color combinations. Nowhere in Italy is the production of pottery more integral to the life of a community than in Caltagirone, Sicily. The hilltop town, not too far from Siracusa, is almost entirely devoted to ceramics. In fact, the streets are paved with pottery! Well, almost. The monumental staircase (142 steps) leading from the main piazza to the cathedral is covered with handmade ceramic tiles in every color and pattern imaginable. And there are dozens of pottery shops as you make your way to the top. It is truly one of the most charming sights of Sicily-and you can shop until you drop!

Hotel Albani in Florence

Reasonable hotels in Italy abound. Nice hotels in Italy are also numerous. But finding a reasonably priced nice hotel in Italy is pretty rare, especially when you are in Florence. The Hotel Albani is one of those uncommon finds-an elegantly decorated, spacious hotel with excellent service at a great price. It's located just steps from Florence's open-air market and Piazza Santa Maria Novella. It even has its own courtyards and gardens for strolling and relaxing. The proprietors are very accommodating and the European breakfast is fantastic. And if walking all day in Florence isn't enough, there's also a fitness room. Doubles start at 110 Euros in April, a real bargain for Florence. Via Fiume, 12.

Travel and Leisure is All About Italy

This month's Travel and Leisure magazine is full of information about several Italian cities, including Milan, Venice, Rome, Florence, Amalfi and even a few out of the way spots. Find out about American Ballet Theatre's newest star, Robert Bolle, and his favorite spots in his hometown, Milan. Travel and Leisure's Italy expert, Valerie Waterhouse, shares some secrets about Venice. Affordable and stylish hotels in Rome and Florence are featured, and an authentic family restaurant in San Cesareo, near Rome, is recommended.

Beer Tasting in Trastevere

Popular Trastevere watering hole Bir e Fud is having a beer tasting event on Wednesday, March 4th at 7:00 pm. Fantome is a Belgian beer from the town of Soy and is known in by those "in the know" for its seasonally changing ingredients and quirky brewer, Dany Prignon. 4 of his beers will be on tap for the occasion. If you want to be a part of the tasting, be sure to make a reservation by Tuesday as these events are always sold out! Email mirkocaretta@gmail.com or call 001.39.06.5561677.

Emporio Le Sirenuse in Positano

Le Sirenuse (The Sirens) is indisputably one of the best hotels in Positano. But not only is it unique, luxurious and quintessentially Italian, but it is also right across the street from its own boutique, Emporio Le Sirenuse. The shop is run by Carla Sersale, the daughter-in-law of Antonio Sersale, the hotel's owner. Here you can find everything in exquisite taste: ballet flats by Porselli, Laura Urbinati swimwear, Faraone Mennella jewelry, Venetian glassware and bohemian textiles by Lisa Corti. The shop is Suzy Gershman's (Born to Shop Italy) favorite store in all of Italy. Diverti te! 30 Via Colombo.

The Saldi Bus

The city of Rome is so committed to bringing customers to its city center sales that it has provided an express bus from Termini Station to the shopping district during Saldi season. The 100 will take you straight downtown and operates every 6 minutes, from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm, 7 days a week. Better hurry as Saldi season ends on February 13th!

Saldi Begins! Italy is On Sale!

It's here! The twice yearly shopping event-SALDI! Retailers in Rome are offering huge discounts on everything in their stores. The city government even gets involved-there's a shuttle from Termini to the shopping districts for tourists and suburban residents coming in to the city. Not sure what to buy this year? La Repubblica has a guide to the styles you don't want to miss out on. Sale season in Rome lasts from January 3rd to February 13. The Saldi Calendar is slightly different throughout Italy, so make sure you check the schedule for each city before you go. Saldi is the perfect time to make an investment in a classic or a trend.

Walking Tours of Rome Courtesy of National Geographic

As part of Traveler Magazine's Places of a Lifetime series, National Geographic has designed three detailed and fascinating walks in Rome. The walks are illustrated by maps and accompanied by pertinent information about what you will see and why it is important. The three walks are the Via Appia Antica, the Via Veneto district, and the historic sites in the heart of Rome. The website also includes what to wear in Rome, restaurant, hotel and shopping recommendations, and even books and music to get you started on your trip before you get there.

Rene Caovilla on Sale at Gilt Groupe

Rene Caovilla, the quintessential Italian shoe designer, is on sale at Gilt Groupe, an invitation-only designer shopping website. Rene Caovilla shoes tend to run at prices over $800 (eek!) and in this economy, that's just not practical. Gilt Groupe has dozens of styles on sale for 50% off-so hurry and find yourself an invitation to join this preferred shopping site!

Luxury City Guides: Are They Worth It?

It seems to be a trend nowadays to publish luxury city guides "for the discerning traveler." There are at least three guidebooks out there now that claim to offer a more refined traveling experience. Not only do these guidebooks cover fine restaurants, 5-star hotels, and luxury shopping, but they really utilize the help of insiders to get the most exclusive recommendations. The prices of the books themselves are also exclusive. The Nota Bene Review requires a year membership (at 495 British Pounds!) which entitles you to their printed guides and access to their members website. The Louis Vuitton City Guides are $110 and include 30 European cities. The Luxe Guides, which are really glorified pamphlets, cost $26.99 for a 3-city guide (which includes London and Paris).
Readers: Are they worth it?

Tod's Film Takes Gwyneth to Rome to Promote Pashmy Bag

Tod's, the Milanese shoe company famed for its driving loafer, recently released a film on its website starring Gwyneth Paltrow (who has her own website now-read a review here). The film, directed by Dennis Hopper, is dedicated to a new handbag, the Pashmy, and what happens when the celebrity loses hers in Rome. Campo dei Fiori and the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati are the featured locations in this short film. Villa Aldobrandini is an incredible 17th century palace built by the nephew of Pope Clement VIII, Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. The Villa is famous for its commanding view of the valley leading up to Rome, as well its water theater, park and Baroque wall-paintings. The Villa and the charming town of Frascati make for an excellent daytrip from Rome- and admission is free!
Watch the film here.

Most Romantic Shopping in Rome

With the economy in trouble at home and the US dollar so weak abroad, shopping in Italy has got to be about more than just the goods. It's got to be about the experience as well. Rome is full of interesting and picturesque shopping opportunities for your honeymoon or vacation. Of course, for big spenders there are the shops near the Piazza di Spagna. Granted, there are Prada stores in all the world-class cities, but when someone compliments you on your shoes or handbag, it will be much more fun to say "Thanks! I got it in Rome!"And if you are in Rome in July or January, you can take advantage of the Saldi (sales). If you are in the market for antiques, there are several options. For antique books and prints, head to the Piazza Fontanella Borghese for an open-air antiquarian market. Not only will you find works in print, but you will also encounter rare coins, stamps and even jewelry. If you are budget-conscious, any one of the city's flea markets will suit your fancy. The Porta Portese is the largest market in Rome and there you can find any number of second-hand goods from all over the world. Be prepared to sort through some questionable items and to haggle once you've found what you're looking for! (Click here for more on Rome's open-air markets). For more expensive and larger options-be aware that shipping costs can be pretty steep-head to the Via del Babuino near Piazza di Spagna. You'll find countless shops filled with elegant antique furniture, paintings and china. Even if you don't buy anything, strolling down the street with your loved one while perusing beautiful old Italian goods will certainly feel romantic. The Modern Traveler's favorite shopping experience is always Santa Maria Novella, the Florentine perfume shop near Piazza Navona. The profumeria is over 500 years old and the original scent was created for Catherine de Medici. What could be more romantic than buying perfume?
Readers: What's your favorite shopping experience in Rome?

Delfina Delettrez Fendi-Jewelry on the Via del Governo Vecchio

A new jewelry boutique has opened in Rome on the Via del Governo Vecchio. Where else would a fourth generation Fendi heir decide to sell her designs but on the most unique and eclectic shopping street in Rome? Delfina Delettrez Fendi, the daughter of Silvia Fendi, accessories designer for Fendi and Bernard Delettrez, the French jeweler, has created a modern line of jewelry inspired by Gothic themes: snakes and skulls in lots of enamel. Even if playful Goth is not your style, you should stop by and see the exquisitely designed store. The green jewel-box of a shop is located at 67 Via del Governo Vecchio.

Readers: Have you been to this store? What did you think of Delfina Fendi's jewelry?