Milan, Italy — Shopping
Shopping in Milan, Italy
Milan is a temple to high fashion, home of Armani and Versace, and naturally sure to delight the high priests and priestesses of style.
Markets
For those who prefer the bustle of street markets, Viale Papiniano (metro San Agostino) is open all day Saturday, while Via Zivetti (metro Centrale FS) is open on Wednesday mornings. The flea market, Fiera di Senigallia, takes place along the Darsena basin on Saturdays (0830-1700).
Key areas
Top of the list for fashion lovers in Milan is the Quadrilatero d'Oro (Golden Quad), formed by Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Monzani and Via della Spiga. Names such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada, Valentino and Versace read like an ABC of Italian chic.
If you don't fancy venturing inside such hallowed ground as Versace's four floors of couture, you can stick to window-shopping paradise on Via della Spiga, where traffic is banned. L'Armadio de Laura, Via Voghera 25, has some fine offbeat thrift and end-of-season returns.
Antique fairs are popular at the weekends around the Naviglio Grande, while the pedestrian Via Fiori Chiari is a particularly pleasant spot for browsing galleries, with a number of good cafés along the way.
Shopping hours
Most shops open 0930-1300 and 1530-1930, although the bigger stores stay open all day. Most shops close on Sunday and reopen on Monday afternoon, except food stores, which reopen on Monday morning but close again for the afternoon. However, many shops open daily during the Christmas season and major bookshops are open until 2300. Many shops close for most of August.
Tax information
Sales tax varies between 4 and 20%. Non-EU citizens can reclaim VAT on their larger purchases and in duty free shops.
