Despite the growth of megastores and shopping centres, Rome is still full of boutique stores and artisan workshops that offer creations of all types.
These kind of shops can be appreciated for the fact they present you with something when you least expect it.
For shoppers passionate about street shopping and exploring smaller boutiques, the place to go in Rome is “Via delle Perline”.
The real area is via del Governo Vecchio where an itinerary touring small boutique shops in Rome starts.
The area is full of vintage stores, costume jewellery and bars offering aperitifs.
It’s a perfect destination in Italy for DIY fashion gurus.
Historic locations such as Novità in via Sora are worth a look, selling costume jewellery but also separate art and craft beads, buttons, swarowski, threads and general objects to play with accessorising.
Further along via Sora is La Perla d’Oriente which sells handmade glass beads from around the world, along with bracelets, earrings, pendants, glass drops, vases and lamps.
The owner of the shop is Mazen Rankoussi from Syria, who can offer discrete advice and will coax you into various creations when you’re browsing.
Another shop in the area, on Vicolo del Governo Vecchio 60, is Officine, which is a kind of laboratory shop.
It has a sister shop at Via della Stelletta 21 and sells fashion accessories, jewellery, and some hand made clothing, but is mostly famous for its shelves of jars full of coloured beads.
There are many little shopping treasures in Rome, outside of the big brand names and department stores.
In the eternal city, exploring is definitely rewarding!