If you’ve come to Venice thinking that you won’t be able to do a bit of designer shopping, think again! Just like in every major Italian city, you get the big fashion brand names here too. For label clothing shopping, the best area is that around the Piazza San Marco, where you can find Versace, MaxMara, Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Prada (and numerous more) big names. If you want to shop for clothing or accessories, though, you don’t necessarily have to shop through the biggest names in fashion – in the Campo Santo Stefano and Calle della Mandola, you can get less famous or local boutiques, but you can find some excellent quality and/or unique items such as clothes, shoes, wallets, or handbags.

For Antiques, try the triannual Mercatino dell’Antiquariato if you are in town in early June, mid-September or late December. There are over 100 vendors, and you will find a great variety of unique antiquarian products.

For leather goods, visit ruga Rialto, where you will find locally crafted leather bags or Fanny on Calle dei Saoneri for leather gloves in a multitude of colors and styles.

If you are looking for Venetian shoes, try Bruno Magli, Mori e Bozzi or Rolando Segalin. The first two have large assortments of high quality footwear, while the last-mentioned shop is famous for its creatively designed Carnevale shoes.

If you need a high-end scarf or shawl, look for Venetia Studium. You will find velvet and silken scarves, shawls, pillows and evening bags that are delicately woven to perfection.

For jewelry, visit Jewelry Chimento, where you will find both custom-made and top international designs in the highest quality gold and silver.

Antichita Zaggia specializes in both antique jewelry and glassware, and their products are truly works of art. Similarly, Esperienze makes its own pins and necklaces from traditionally blown glass.

Venini is the most respected glass maker in all Venice, and you can see their creations on display at the Marco Polo. Also don’t miss the antique Venetian Pearls, a kind of glass bead, for sale at Anticlea Antiquariato.

For crafts and general artisan products, explore the Murano Art Shop. Local artisans fill it with masks, puppets, music boxes and more — both the traditional and the contemporary.

For Venetian masks and costumes, stop by the Atelier Marega. You will also find there exquisite chandeliers, masks, more Venetian glass jewelry and other crafts.