Naples Shopping

In the Montesanto area, this famous food market is held daily from 08.00 to 14.00 , blending the smells and colours of fruit, vegetables and fish. This is one of the most characteristic places in Naples, where you can let yourself be seduced by the true spirit of the city, warming yourself in the fun and lively atmosphere.

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All along the Via Caracciolo seawall there were merchants trying to sell you everything. I watched as they carried a large 'trash bags' filled with their wares and began carefully placing the items for sale on display.

You can buy sunglasses, CDs and these quality purses. Hmm, something tells me they aren't originals, but if your looking for a cheap bargin this is the place to shop.

What to buy: Sunglasses, jewelry, hats, CDs, purses...

Gay Odin Chocolate shop is located on the famous Via Toledo downtown. Via Toledo is the the most popular shopping area in the city. Gay Odin has been around since 1894, and is even highly recommended by some travel guides.

What to buy: Chocolates
Albanesi, Trifoglio, Scorzette, Tarallini, Limoncello, Cremini,Verdeprato,
Bombonati, Africanelle, Pasta di mandorla, Chicchi al caffé, Vittoria, Tripolini,
Scricchioli, Deliziosi, Preferiti, Giapponesi, Navette, Cozze, Cico cico, Semitenero,
Formettato, Cremalthe, Columbia, Esploratori, Nugatine, Grissini, Fondant.

My wife loves this store, and in fact is one of the few stores she will buy clothes at. I like it because, first of all, it makes her happy, and secondly because the prices are pretty reasonable.
Opening hours
Monday : from 9am to 9pm
Tuesday : from 9am to 9pm
Wednesday : from 9am to 9pm
Thursday : from 9am to 9pm
Friday : from 9am to 9pm
Saturday : from 9am to 9pm

What to buy: Jeans about 30-50 Euro
Sweaters about 40 Euro
Skirts about 30-50 Euro
Leather Boots 100 Euro
You can check out their stuff on their website. This is not an endorsement, merely a tip for the shopping weary traveler.
PROMOD is from Spain, and like Zara, has fair prices, which compete quite well with other German and Italian stores.

This little shop is in the heart of Naples in Spaccanapoli. Don't ask for addresses, because you couldn't use an address to find it any way. It's just down the street from the Piazza Del Gesu walking towards the Duomo. This street is always crowded with university students and tourists. One of the best parts of the city. My wife's Sociology department is on this street as well.
The shop sells the famous Capodimonte Porcelan for about half of what you'd pay elsewhere. The owners are really friendly.

What to buy: Buy a Capodimonte of Pulcinella for a real souvenier of Napoli. Pulcinella is the mascot of the city, and is characterized by his fun loving, joking manner. He is never serious, and always joking.

What to pay: The Pulcinella cost us only 15 Euro

This little shop is in the heart of Naples in Spaccanapoli. Don't ask for addresses, because you couldn't use an address to find it any way. It's just down the street from the Piazza Del Gesu walking towards the Duomo. This street is always crowded with university students and tourists. One of the best parts of the city. My wife's Sociology department is on this street as well.
The shop sells the famous Capodimonte Porcelan for about half of what you'd pay elsewhere. The owners are really friendly.

What to buy: Buy a Capodimonte of Pulcinella for a real souvenier of Napoli. Pulcinella is the mascot of the city, and is characterized by his fun loving, joking manner. He is never serious, and always joking.

What to pay: The Pulcinella cost us only 15 Euro.
The URL listed below is not affilitated with the store, but there as a reference on this fine porcelan.

I can't recommend a specific shop--and even if I could, after 30 years (which is how long it's been since I left Naples), there's a decent chance that shop might not even be in business any longer. So you will need to do your own investigation as to where to buy cameos. There are places (a fair number close Pompeii, if memory serves) where you can see cameos being made. Many of the cameos in Italy are carved from seashells, but there are also cameos carved from agate and a variety of other materials.

What to buy: But no matter where you go, whether in Naples or in another part of Italy, I highly recommend purchasing a cameo. The quality of the carving is wonderful. I bought one in Venice (on my second visit there, back in 1988) which I still cherish. It will be an heirloom for my granddaughter (if I'm lucky enough to have a granddaughter someday). It's so totally beautiful and unique--a true work of art. If you look closely, you may notice that the middle of the design is a clockface--notice the tiny little clock hands and the teeny Roman numerals? In fact, the entire broach is a copy of a clockface designed by Michelangelo. The broach is even signed by the artist (the picture isn't good enough for you to be able to see the signature) which is the sign of a true work of art.

I paid several hundred for it (I can't remember the exact price, but I think it was in the neighborhood of around $500--of course that was almost 20 years ago...) and I have never regretted buying it. Sorry my picture doesn't do the cameo full justice--it's in a round box, so you can't see the lovely gold bezel setting in which the cameo is placed. You can, I hope, see the delicacy of the carving.

By the way, since it's Italy we are talking about, the gold setting will most likely be 18kt gold, not 14kt. Fine jewelry in the United States is usually only 14kt, but in Italy it will be 18kt. So you might pay a bit more for the setting, because of the higher gold content. You can, if you like, buy cameos which are not set. That way you can buy a higher quality cameo, spend less money, and then have it set (possibly in a setting of your own design) when you return home.

What to pay: I don't know what you might expect to have to pay for a cameo like this now, but I'm sure it's not inexpensive.

Not really a shop, more of a little stand where you can buy the latest CDs and computer programs (all bootleg copies) for about 3,00-5,00 euro each. Just depends on where you go.

What to buy: CD's including new releases, computer programs. Playstation games, etc....

There are also vendors who sell cosmetics such as Lancome, Revlon, Yves Rocher, etc...

And of course, you can always buy a fake Gucci or Prada bag on the street in Naples.

What to pay: 3-5 euro for a CD or Program