Via Condotti, Rome

Rome own famous shopping streets.
Via Condotti - is one of them, where all the top names in fashion and design industry can be found in this expensive and exclusive shopping. Most of the store in this street has a security guard. If you like something to buy, do not hesitate to go inside. The saleswoman were very friendly and are willing to help you

This shopping street, is one of the fanciest and most expensive shopping streets of Rome. The street, which runs from "Piazza di Spagna to the Via del Corso", is mainly populate by expensive fashion stores. You will find especially the major brands such as Cartier, Dior, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Shopping their own brand, prices are a bit lower than Belgium. No idea in other European country.

However, the Via dei Condotti more to offer than just fashion. An address that you should not miss in this street is the famous Antico Caffe Greco, where countless celebrities coffee drunk.
The prices are quite high, even here, but coffee is still cheaper than a Dior jacket or a Cartier watch.

What to buy: Love Italian brand especially their handbag, shoe and their apparel. Italian has good quality of shoe and bags. Shopping in Italy is bit cheaper than in Belgium, their sizes are smaller comparing to other European size

What to pay: Start from 300 euro and above

It is fun to walk from the Spanish steps down along via dei Condotti. To window shop. Then turn onto the foot-wearing-out long stretch of Via del Corso. This street of wares fit my pocketbook better.

What to buy: Lots and lots of shops. What's your pleasure?
I like Playlife apparel. Hmmmm..... took me awhile to find out that it is now in stores called Replay...

What to pay: too much on Condotti!
average on Corso...

Via Condotti is real shopping paradise to those who like and can afford themselvess extremelly expensive and top quality ready made garments. In this, relativelly short street, one can find every single leading trade-mark in clothing business, both Italian and international. On my pictures you can see "Brioni", world best trade-mark of man suites, "Valentino" and "Ferragamo".

Descend from the Spanish Steps (see pic) and walk into the Via Condotti. You'll find more designer stores than you can shake a stick at, so if you've never maxed out your plastic before and want to give it a try: this is the best place in town!

For those mere mortals among us (like you and I), walk along until you reach Via del Corso. This is Rome's main shopping area with many high street stores. It's quite economical, especially leather goods are cheaper in Italy than in northern Europe. And Italians are justly famed for their sense of style; so even if it looks a bit avant-garde to you now, you can be pretty sure it's going to be in vogue some time soon after after you get home!

You wanna really spoil yourself ? Then you must shop on Via Condotti, for anything that is branded from Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Yves Sant Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton... This is the street for brands!

What to buy: Branded stuff - cloths, shoes, accessories - men / women and kids !

What to pay: Normal price for branded goods. By normal I mean expensive but were talking dolce & gabbana or Gucci here .. so what would you expect ? :)

If you are looking to upgrade your wardobe in to the latest catwalk catagory, Via Condotti is the place for you. It houses the biggest names in fashion, Armani, Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo just to ame a few. Additionally, within a 2 block radius you will find others like Hugo Boss, Zegna, etc. It truly is THE place for fashion in Rome.

What to pay: For Americans, you will be paying for that fashion with the Dollar/Euro as it is. Once again, if this is your reason for coming to Rome, try to come during Rome's sale seasons: mid-Jan to mid-Feb and then in August.

If you are looking or wishing this is the place to be..Some of the most expensive boutiques are located in this famous street.
You can find Gucci,Ferragamo famous for his scarfs and shoes,Prada, Armani...

This street is the shopping paradise if you want to buy italian style clothes. Here you can find all the shops of the most famous brands of clothing, starting from Valentino to Armani, from Cavalli to Prada....

But the street worth a visit even if you don't want to buy anything...

This is however one of the most famous streets in Rome.

Via Condotti has very old origins: in Roman times it was one of the streets that crossed the ancient Via Flaminia and enabled people who crossed the Tiber to flow towards the Pincio hill.
On the Pincio hill, Lucullo, the Roman leader famous from having brought to Rome the culture and oriental splendor from Geece, decided to build his villa after having defeated Mitridate in Asia Minor.
Via Condotti originally must have been the entrance to Lucullo's villa and remained during the Medioeval times a country road.

From 1870 the street has pretty much remained the same as it was originally designed, when Rome became the capital of Italy and this area was designed to be occupied by banks and state administrative offices.
Since the beginnig of 1700 the habit of meeting in Via Condotti's cafes and at the Spanish Steps has not altered in the slightest. The names of those who met in Via Condotti are very well know and distinguished such as: Sthendal, Byron, Shelley, Goethe and D'Annunzio.
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A plague still stands today to indicate where one of the most famous Italian poets, Giacomo Leopardi lived (81, via Condotti).

Caffé Greco is perhaps the most famous cafè in the capital; estabilished in 1760 by a Greek man, remains today one of the places where, politicians, artist and writers meet.

Via Condotti is the street that is perpendicular to the Spanish Steps and is the home to many famous Italian (and other American/foreign) designers. On this street you can find shops for:

Gucci
Prada
Ferragamo
Bulgari
Cartier
Valentino

We really enjoyed window shopping here in the evening when all of the stores were closed and the crowds were gone.

What to buy: Purses, Shoes, Clothing, Jewelry

What to pay: WAY TOO MUCH MONEY! :-)