Antichità Pietro Scarpa
Dorsoduro
This distinguished shop next to the Gallerie dell'Accademia sells old master paintings—originals, not copies—with accordingly rarified prices.
6 Best Shopping in Venice, Italy
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It’s no secret that Venice offers some excellent shopping opportunities, but the best of them are often not the most conspicuous. Look beyond the ubiquitous street vendors and the hundreds of virtually indistinguishable purse, glass, and lace shops that line the calli, and you’ll discover a bounty of unique and delightful treasures—some might be kitschy, but much will show off the high level of craftsmanship for which Venice has long been known.
Alluring shops abound. You'll find countless vendors of trademark Venetian wares such as Murano glass and Burano lace; the authenticity of some goods can be suspect, but they're often pleasing to the eye regardless of their heritage. For more sophisticated tastes (and deeper pockets), there are jewelers, antiques dealers, and high-fashion boutiques on a par with those in Italy's larger cities but often maintaining a uniquely Venetian flair. Don’t ignore the contemporary, either: Venice's artisan heritage lives on in the hand and eye of the today’s designers—no matter where they hail from.
While the labyrinthine city center can seem filled with imposing high-fashion emporiums and fancy glass shops, individual craftspeople often working off the main thoroughfares produce much of what is worth taking home from Venice. In their workshops artful stationery is printed with antique plates; individual pairs of shoes are adroitly constructed; jewelry is handcrafted; fine fabrics are skillfully woven; bronze is poured to make gondola décor, and iron is worked into fanali lanterns; paper is glued, pressed, and shaped into masks; and oars and forcola oarlocks are hewn and sculpted in the workshops of remér wood craftsmen.
Augusto Mazzon
Dorsoduro
Mazzon is a master woodworker specializing in intaglio, framing, gilding, and restoration of anything wooden. His sublimely cluttered workshop contains figurines of various sizes, from just-carved cherubs to an elegantly simple madonna shining in gold leaf, with picture and mirror frames all carved by hand. He is the fourth generation of his family to do this work.
Claudia Canestrelli
Dorsoduro
In her tasteful shop, Claudia has amassed a limited choice of antiques, small paintings, original etchings from the 16th to 19th centuries, and plenty of interesting-looking bric-a-brac, including silver ex-votos and period souvenirs, such as brass ashtrays in the shape of lions' heads and various doorknockers. Baroque-looking earrings are made of cultured pearls and bits of old brass or bronze.
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Kleine Galerie
San Marco
This is a good address for antique books and prints, majolica pottery, and other ceramics.
Linea d'Acqua
San Marco
Fine antique print and book aficionados will fall in love with this gem of a store run by the extremely knowledgeable Luca Zentilini. His focus is on Venetian culture and limited editions, with special interest in illustrated books from the 18th century. A large selection of Venetian maps are on offer, as well as etchings by masters including Piranesi, Visentini, Tiepolo, and Carlevarijs.
Vittorio Constantini
Cannaregio
This glass artist's workshop features unusual, intricate pieces inspired by nature—birds, butterflies, beetles, and other insects—appreciated by adults and children alike.
