Battiston
Calle Vallaresso, San Marco
Decanters and glasses made of blown glass.
Bottega Veneta
Calle Vallaresso, San Marco 1337,
Tel: 041 522 8489
Say no more. Handbag heaven.
Cartapesta
Barbaria delle Tolle, Castello
Masks and other items in papier mache and leather - you can put aside a good hour to browse in there.
Cenerentola
Rio Terra'Nomboli, San Polo 2600/A
Tel: 041 523 2006
Beautiful lampshades exquisitely crafted and also custom made.
Codognato
Calle dell'Ascensione, San Marco 1295
Tel: 041 5225042
Fantastic collection of jewelry: seas of emeralds and pearls in all sorts of styles.
Dittura
San Vio 871, Dorsoduro
Tel: 0141 523 1163
Any Venetian will tell you to go to Dittura to purchase a pair of de rigeur 'furlane' - traditional gondolier's shoes made of velvet. Mainly worn as chic slippers they are made for both men and women.
Il Prato: Legatoria
Calle de le Ostreghe 2457/58
Tel: 041 523 1148
A real find - a favorite shop in Venice. Exquisite leather goods from cigar cases with temperature controls to elegant solitaire boards all beautifully crafted using the same manufacturer as Hermes. Good initialed stationary as well. Also has US distributor: Lucy Zahram and Co, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills CA (tel: 800 828 1333)
Mondo Novo
Rio Terra Canal, Campo Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro.
Tel: 041 528 7344
Another place for masks. Word on the street is that Kubrick went there to collect masks for a well known scene in Eyes Wide Shut.
Panificio Volpe
Calle Ghetto Vecchio, Cannaregio 1143
Tel: 041 715178
A pastry shop not to be missed: breads and sweets in the Jewish tradition. Deer's horns packed full of crema di mandorla (almond fondant), tiny delicate candles made of sugar and much, much more for those with a sweet tooth.
Paolin
In Campo Santa Stefano – known as the best gelateria in Venice. Heavenly after an afternoon on your feet.
