Umbria is known as the ‘green heart of Italy’ and is famous for its stunning rural landscape, rolling hills and pretty hilltop towns and villages. Umbria’s shops certainly don’t tend to be the reason why most people are drawn to visit the area! However, the region can actually boast some great shopping opportunities if you know where to look. Here are some of our favourite shops and markets to visit when staying in one of our villas in Umbria. We’ve listed them by town so that you can easily find out the best places to shop wherever you are staying in Umbria.
Arezzo
Held on the first weekend of every month, this is a huge antiques fair which spreads across the Piazza Grande, the Piazza San Francesco and the Logge Vasari. Founded in 1968, the market has been taking place for over 50 years now and is certainly the biggest in the area.
Bevagna
One of our favourite restaurants in Bevagna is also a great place to do a spot of shopping. Situated just off the main Piazza at Corso Matteotti 102, La Bottega di Assu sells excellent oil and wine along with some beautiful ceramic souvenirs. We highly recommend you leave time to sample their food as well as to enjoy some shopping.
Deruta
Deruta is home to Ubaldo Grazia Maioliche. This family run business has a long and rich history, producing fine quality majolica dating ever since the 1500s. All pieces are still made in house using time-honoured traditional methods.
Foligno
Umbria has a strong tradition of making cashmere with over 500 companies specialising in its production within the region. Badiali is just one of these. The company has a factory outlet situated in between Foligno and Spello at Via Fiamenga 47, selling cashmere and woollen clothing for a fraction of the normal prices. Whilst this arguably isn’t offering the same high end quality of some of our other cashmere recommendations, it does offer unbeatable value for money. The shop is nothing glamorous, situated in front of their factory, but you’ll find some lovely cashmere items at bargain prices! It’s also not unknown for the owner to appear in person and offer you a complimentary coffee whilst you shop or a tour of the factory itself. (Incidentally, you will also find a smaller Badiali outlet in this historic centre of Bevagna at Corso Giacomo Matteotti, 59).
For a more diverse selection of clothing, head to Marina B or Officina 34 Retroscena in Foligno. The former has a great selection of linen dresses and trousers as well as some stunning scarves and a beautiful collection of antiques, ceramics and home accessories. The latter sells the clothing of some really high end brands as well as holding art exhibitions from time to time.
If you want to find some shoes to go with your clothing purchases, then head to Duemme Calzature in the centre of Foligno at Corso Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour 116. The owner, Mariangela, will have a great selection of shoes and bags for both men and women to offer you from some of Italy’s most famous designers including Prada and Dolce and Gabbana.
Art lovers amongst you should head to the shop of Francesca Greco, a talented artist. It’s the perfect place to find a truly unique memento of your time in Umbria, whether that be one of her paintings, books, T shirts, key rings or wooden boxes. Or make an appointment to view the paintings of local artist Luigi Frappi. He is a famous Italian painter and one of the founders of the Nuova Materia Italiana movement of the 1980s and then the Revivalism movement. He creates incredible landscape and still life paintings.
Magione
Umbria boasts around 500 companies which specialise in the production and manufacture of cashmere goods. Situated on the Via Case Sparse in Magione, overlooking Lake Trasimeno, is Lamberto Losani, a family run business that has been established for over 50 years and which produces stunning women’s cashmere.
Montefalco
When it Montefalco, make sure you visit Tessitura Pardi Montefalco, a shop selling exquisite Italian linen products from tablecloths and bed linen to table runners and napkins.
Perugia
Perugia has an antiques market on the last weekend of every month in the Piazza Italia. It always has an interesting and eclectic mix of wares on sale including second hand books, furniture, paintings, household goods and ornaments.
A couple of our favourite shops in Perugia include Niba, a fantastic boutique where you will find plenty of designer clothes for men, women and children, and L’Arte dei Vasai. The latter is famous for its pottery and ceramics.
Perugina
If you love chocolate, then you have to make sure you pay a visit to the Casa del Cioccolato Perugina on the outskirts of Perugia. This is the home of the famous Italian chocolate – Baci Perugina. You’ll find a museum here which tells the story of the history of this sweet treat along with providing visitors with the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the factory and to enjoy tastings. It is even possible to take part in some cookery classes here, all of which have chocolate at the heart of them. And, of course, there is a great shop where you can purchase an array of chocolate treats!
Pissignano
We absolutely love antiques fairs and flea markets and, if like us, you can’t resist the lure of all those possible bargains, then definitely make a beeline for the flea market held in Pissignano. Selling everything from old machinery to garden tools, from second hand books to beautifully embroidered linen, from ceramics and glassware and from furniture to jewellery, this monthly market is held on the first Sunday of each month in the Via Flaminia from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Solomeo
Solomeo is a tiny 13th century hilltop hamlet near Perugia and it’s home to a one of our favourite cashmere companies – Brunello Cucinelli. It’s open Monday to Friday fom 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and then again from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Spello
There are a couple of shops within the historic centre of Spello that we also love. The first is Oro di Spello on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. This sells beauty products and cosmetics made from olive oil. We can highly recommend their diffusers with handmade ceramic toppers. The scents are stunning. For clothes, head to La Bottega degli Intrecci. Describing itself as an eco boutique, it sells unique clothes using organic, sustainable fabrics that have been made using a range of techniques from weaving to macrame and from tatting to tailoring.
For truffles, head to Virgini Tartufi which is located at the bottom of Spello, outside the historic walls. You’ll find fresh truffles to purchase along with a range of products that contain truffles.