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If you plan to do serious shopping in Italy, you may want to look into VAT refund. VAT (Value Added Tax) or IVA (Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto) is a tax that is included in the sale price. The refund ranges from 4% to 16% and occurs in two ways: direct relief or VAT refund.
Direct relief happens with merchandises purchased in Tax-Free shops where the store gives you the VAT check which can be cashed at any Global Refund office. Note: Do not confuse Tax-Free shops with Duty-Free shops.
VAT refund happens with merchandises purchased at selling price and a reimbursement is made afterward.
In either case, certain requirements must be met:
-The buyer is not an EU resident.
-Merchandises are for personal use outside of the country.
-Service supplied or goods consumed in the country are not qualified for refund.
-The buyer, not shipping companies, will carry the merchandises out of EU. (Shipped merchandises to outside of EU are always sold without VAT.)
-The minimum purchase price in one shop is €155.
-Invoice contains description of merchandises and the buyer’s passport and flight number.
-Merchandises leave EU within three months of purchase.
-Merchandises are declared at Custom Office at the airport exit from EU, together with invoice to receive a stamp of endorsement.
-Invoice is sent back to the seller within four months.
-Refund will be sent in the method of your choice.
If any of the merchandises is to be in check-in luggage, it still has to be declared at Custom Office first.
Should the seller not receive the invoice in time, he shall be hold responsible by the state for the payment of VAT initially deducted from the purchase, therefore, please do not forget this last act. The invoice doesn’t need postage; all you need to do is drop it in a mailbox at the airport. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Upon entering a shop, it is expected that both customer and staff greet one another with a “Buon giorno” or “Buona sera”.
Unlike in the US where customers wander around the store and browse aimlessly, the shop clerk in Italy will approach you to ask if she can help. If your purpose is to look around, tell her so, she will leave you alone. If you need something but don’t see it (the limited space doesn’t allow all merchandise to be displayed), also tell her, the chance is she will find it in the back room somewhere. I have found in my experience that a little probe usually results in finding what I need -- for instance, the new shipment later on in the week or another store in the city may yield the item of my choice.
When paying, you will find a dish at the counter, that’s where you place the money instead of handing it directly to the clerk. The change will be given back to you the same way.
If the amount owed is with odd change, most cashiers will ask you for extra coins in order to give you back an even amount. For example, the total owed is € 6.18 and you give the clerk a € 20 note. She will ask you for € 1.18 or € 1.20. This case, she only has to give you back two notes and a small coin instead of one note and 7 coins of change.
There are many guidebooks and on-line travel sites that deem this request needless and assume the clerks are incompetent of making change. Well, I think this is a good practice actually. It cut down the amount of heavy coins in the customers’ pocket while allowing the store to maintain enough small change to last the day, and over all, it hones everyone’s mental arithmetic. Killing several birds with one stone is not exactly incompetent, is it? Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Mercato Nuovo is located at Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, within a stone's throw from the famous Ponte Vecchio in the heart of Florence. The building was designed by Giovan Battista del Tasso and was constructed in the middle of 16th century.
Among the popular attraction at Mercato Nuovo is the bronze statue of the wild boar even though it is not an original one. The original statue is located at Palazzo Pitti. You may touch the nose of the wild boar and make a wish especially for fortune and your wish may be granted! Some tourists even place coins in the mouth of the wild boar! The bronze statue was scupltured by Pietro Tacca in the 16th century.
Among the items on sale at Mercato Nouvo are leather goods like handbags, belts and wallets, straw hats, silk materials like scarves and other luxury goods. Italian souvenirs especailly masks, keychains and postcards are also available in the market.
Several statues of the famous Italian personalities were sculptured around Loggia del Mercato such as the statues of Giovanni Villani and Michele di Lando. Don't miss Loggia del Mercato Nuovo when you are in Florence for your vacation! Leave a Comment Theme: GiftsAddress: Via Porta Rossa, FlorenceDirections: Located within a stone's throw from Ponte Vecchio in the heart of Florence.
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The weekly open-air market is held every Wednesday morning at Chianciano Terme from early in the morning until 2.00 p.m. in the afternoon. It is located just outside the Old Town beside the main football stadium of the town. The market stretches for approximately one kilometer long and is very colourful and crowded with mostly locals.
A wide range of consumer goods are available in the market cheaply ranging from clothings and textiles, houshold utensils, toys, watches to leather goods such as handbags, belts and wallets. Fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers are also on sale in the market. Don't miss the Wednesday market when you are in Chianciano Terme as it is held just once a week! Beware of pickpockets as the market is always crowded with locals!
Leather goods made in Italy such as travelling bags, wallets, handbags and jackets are highly recommended.
Cheaper than you pay in the shops, that is for sure! Leave a Comment Theme: OtherDirections: Located just outside the Old Town beside the main football stadium of Chianciano Terme.
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For those who are shopping for jewelleries either for themselves or for their friends and relatives back home, Ponte Vecchio market has all your requirements! The famous Ponte Vecchio bridge is dotted with plenty of jewellery shops dealing in golds, silvers and precious gemstones. The shops are brightly-lit even during broad daylight and the items in the showcase are neatly arranged.
Take your time to look around as the jewelleries are expensive and there are many goldsmith shops to choose from. Bargaining is allowed as the prices are quite highly marked-up. No refund is acceptable once the good is sold! Window shopping can be fun too even if shopping for gold is not your cup of tea!
As the bridge is a popular tourist destination, shops and stalls selling souvenirs are also located along the bridge. For those who are hungry and thirsty refreshment and ice cream stalls are also located at or near the bridge.
Chains and rings in gold, silver with precious gemstones.
The prices are expensive as they are located in tourist area of Ponte Vecchio. Leave a Comment Theme: JewelryAddress: Ponte Vechhio, FlorenceDirections: Located along the popular Ponte Vecchio bridge in the heart of Florence.
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San Lorenzo Market is located at Piazza San Lorenzo just behind San Lorenzo Cathedral in the heart of Florence. It stretches right up to Mercato Centrale at Piazza del Mercato Centrale. This is a very popular shopping district especially for foreign tourists and is considered a "must-visit" shopping area in the city of Florence.
A wide variety of consumer goods are available at the market ranging from leather belts, jackets, handbags, travelling bags, wallets to clothings and textiles, watches, toys and even souvenirs to take home. It is absolutely necessary to bargain as the asking price is rather high. You will not be surprised you pay less than half the asking price after bargaining!
Especially leather jackets, lady's handbags, wallets and belts.
Cheapest around the city of Florence. Leave a Comment Theme: Local CraftAddress: Piazza San Lorenzo, FlorenceDirections: Located directly behind San Lorenzo Cathedral in the city of Florence.
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Mercato Centrale (Central Market) is located at Piazza del Mercato Centrale near Piazza San Lorenzo in the heart of Florence. It is situated along the busy San Lorenzo markets. The Central Market is housed in an old cast iron and glass building that dates back to 1874. The building was designed by Giuseppe Mengoni. It has two floors with lots of shops and restaurants for your shopping pleasure! Mercato Centrale is the most popular market in Florence and a great tourist attraction. It is considered a "must-visit" market in the city of Florence.
A wide variety of items are on sale such as fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, meat, fish, olive oil, candies, Italian cookies, nuts, breads and souvenirs. The market caters mostly for the locals living around San Lorenzo. However many tourists patronise the several restaurants on the ground floor as the food and drinks are comparatively cheap in contrast to those of other parts of the city. Opening hours are between 8.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. Leave a Comment Theme: Food and DrinkAddress: Via dell'Ariento 10, FlorenceDirections: Located within San Lorenzo Market in the heart of Florence.
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Those of you who are lovers of superb quality wines should taste "Barolo", the king of Italian red wines. It is originated from Tuscany which is home of Barolo, but there are also overstanding quality Barolo's coming from Piedmont too. I prefer Barolo from Piedmont which is more secco (dry).
Barolo is very expensive wine but woth all money you spend on it. If you buy it in the wineyards, it cost from 20 to 40 euros for a bottle, in the wine shops however, Barolo from Montalcino, which is the best, cost from 30 up to 150 euros. Leave a Comment Theme: Food and Drink
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Put at least one bottle of Italian wine in your bag on the way back home. Let it remind you on a great holidays you had, seating on the terrace, listening to murmur of the waves and sipping a glass of wine in the twilight.
My suggestion is, light red wines from the northern part of the country. "Chiaretto" from Bardolino, area of Lago di Garda, is not bad choice. Leave a Comment Theme: Food and Drink
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They say San Daniele is the best prosciutto (smoked ham) that exist, perhaps it is truth but I don't share that opinion. It is the metter of taste, to me the best is prosciutto from nearby Istria region.
In any case, Italian proscitto, especially the one from San Daniele nearby Udine, is of superb quality. Do not regret to spend some money on it and bring it to your home because you'll have great Christmas time eating it in that ocassion. Leave a Comment Theme: Food and Drink
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on May 9, 2005
on March 4, 2009
on November 26, 2005
