shopping in venice: how the city’s history shapes what you buy
Venice is not just canals and palaces. For centuries, the city was a trading powerhouse that funneled silk, spices, glass and precious metals between East and West. That long history of trade in Venice still shapes what is worth buying today and explains why some souvenirs feel deeper and more meaningful than others.
When thinking about what to buy in Venice, Italy, it helps to understand two things:
- which products genuinely grow out of Venetian tradition and skills
- where authentic workshops and reliable merchants are located
This guide focuses on both. It links typical “things to buy in Venice” with the city’s past, explains how traditional goods are made, and points to areas and specific streets where those items are still sold today. The aim is to help you move beyond generic trinkets and choose objects that connect your trip to Venice’s real history.
from medieval trade hub to modern shopping streets
For centuries, Venice was famous for acting as a middleman. Ships brought raw materials to the lagoon; local artisans transformed them into luxury products exported throughout Europe. Merchants, craftsmen and workshops turned the city into a kind of open-air factory for high-end goods long before industrialization.
Key idea: Venice’s most interesting souvenirs are not random tourist items but products tied to old trades that survived industrialization.
Several of those historic trades still influence what to buy from Venice today:
- Glassmaking – concentrated on the island of Murano since the 13th century, because furnaces posed a fire risk in the main city
- Lacemaking – centered on Burano, where women developed extremely fine needle lace
- Bookbinding and paper – Venice was a major early printing center, which fostered related crafts
- Silk and textiles – although large-scale silk production moved elsewhere, textile know-how remained
Understanding this background helps you separate quick souvenirs from objects that continue those long craft traditions. As you walk from crowded squares into side streets, you move from the city’s past as an international market toward the small, quiet workshops that keep that heritage alive.
murano glass: what matters beyond bright colors
Glass is probably the most famous answer to the question what to buy in Venice. However, the market ranges from mass-produced imports to exceptional works of art. The difference lies in how the glass is made, who makes it, and where the furnace stands.
how traditional murano glass is made
Murano glassmakers use high-temperature furnaces and specific mixtures of sand, soda and metal oxides. The glowing glass is blown and shaped by hand with metal tools. Colored patterns are either mixed directly into the glass or applied in layers while the material is still hot and malleable.
This demanding process produces:
- characteristic weight and texture – real Murano pieces feel solid but not clumsy
- subtle color gradients rather than flat, painted surfaces
- small irregularities that indicate handwork
Those tiny imperfections are signs of a human hand, not flaws. Watching a glassblower work – even during a brief demonstration – makes it easier to recognize the difference between handcrafted glass and cheap, uniform pieces sold by the dozens in tourist-heavy streets.
what to buy: typical murano glass items
Popular things to buy in Venice, Italy when it comes to glass include:
- jewelry: beads, pendants, earrings – easier to transport and usually affordable
- drinking glasses: tumblers or wine glasses with colored stems
- vases and bowls: often with “millefiori” (thousand flowers) patterns
- small sculptures: animals, abstract shapes, or traditional clowns
For travelers who enjoy design, Murano glass combines practical use with decorative value and a strong link to Venetian history. A set of everyday glasses, for example, turns a simple drink of water at home into a reminder of evenings along the Grand Canal.
where to buy authentic murano glass
To avoid low-quality imitations, location and documentation matter. Shops that take authenticity seriously usually explain techniques, mention individual artists and are happy to answer detailed questions.
- On Murano island: along Fondamenta dei Vetrai and in adjacent streets, many furnaces have showrooms; some offer brief demonstrations.
- In central Venice: reliable shops cluster around the San Marco and Dorsoduro districts, particularly near Campo Santo Stefano and along Calle Larga XXII Marzo.
Look for:
- a certificate such as the “Vetro Artistico® Murano” trademark
- clear pricing, not invented on the spot
- labels stating origin; “Made in Italy” is a minimum, but “Made in Murano” with a workshop name is stronger
If a price seems unbelievably low for a “Murano” piece, it probably does not come from Murano at all. Taking a little time to compare shops and ask about origin protects you from disappointment later.
burano lace and venetian textiles: slow crafts in a fast world
If glass represents fire, lace represents patience. Burano lace is made with a needle and single thread, forming patterns stitch by stitch. This incredibly slow process partly explains why genuine pieces are rare and expensive, and why many cheaper items in shop windows are machine-made imitations.
understanding burano lace
Traditional Burano lace has several characteristics:
- needle lace, not machine-made; patterns built from tiny stitches
- irregularities when viewed closely – an indicator of handwork
- subtle, often monochrome designs, not flashy colors
Because of the time required, large tablecloths in real Burano lace are luxury purchases, not casual souvenirs. A single square can take weeks of work. Knowing this helps you appreciate why authentic lace carries a high price and why very cheap “Burano” lace almost always comes from a factory elsewhere.
what to buy and where
Common lace-related things to purchase in Italy, especially in Venice, include:
- small lace handkerchiefs or doilies
- inserts for blouses or dresses
- decorative pieces framed as wall art
For genuine products:
- Burano island: around Piazza Galuppi and the Lace Museum (Museo del Merletto) many shops sell verified pieces; some show artisans at work.
- Venice city: a few specialist boutiques in San Marco and San Polo sell certified Burano lace and high-quality Venetian textiles.
Alongside lace, Venice still has workshops producing woven fabrics for curtains, cushions and upholstery. These often reproduce historical patterns seen in palaces along the Grand Canal, linking home décor purchases to the city’s architectural heritage. A length of fabric or a pair of cushion covers can bring the colors and motifs of Venetian interiors directly into your living room.
masks, paper and print: souvenirs linked to festivals and books
Beyond glass and lace, two other categories illustrate how traditions adapt: carnival masks and paper goods. Both grew from specific moments in Venetian history and now offer accessible, often affordable souvenirs that still feel rooted in the city.
venetian masks: more than carnival props
Venetian society historically used masks not just for Carnival but also for theater and even anonymous daily life. Several classic forms – such as the long-nosed medico della peste (plague doctor) or the white-faced bauta – still appear in shop windows and on walls during the winter festival.
Authentic mask workshops usually:
- build masks from paper-mâché formed on molds, not plastic
- paint and decorate by hand in the studio
- often offer courses where visitors can decorate their own
Areas with traditional mask makers include streets around Campo Santo Stefano, Rialto, and small alleys in Dorsoduro between Accademia and Zattere. Choosing a mask from a workshop, rather than a stack of identical plastic ones, gives you an object with a story and often the chance to meet the artist who made it.
handmade paper and bookbinding
Because Venice became an early printing center, paper-related crafts developed naturally. Today, these appear as:
- marbled paper used for notebooks, diaries and photo albums
- hand-bound journals with leather or cloth covers
- art prints of Venetian views from small presses
Shops in Dorsoduro (especially near Calle Lunga San Barnaba), parts of San Polo, and streets just off Rialto Bridge are good areas to look for such items. These purchases combine function (writing, sketching) with a direct link to Venice’s book culture. A travel journal bought in one of these workshops can become the place where you record your own time in the city.
food and drink: edible things to buy in venice italy
Edible souvenirs bring Venice’s trading role into the kitchen. Many products echo goods historically traded through the city, such as spices and wine, and let you continue your visit at home through taste and smell.
typical venetian food items
Useful food-related answers to “what to buy from Venice” include:
- spices and spice mixes: Venice once controlled spice routes; today, markets like Rialto still sell blends for risotto, fish and pasta.
- biscotti and sweets: local bakeries produce cookies such as baicoli (ship’s biscuits) and almond-based treats.
- wine from the Veneto region: Prosecco, Soave and Valpolicella are all from nearby areas; wine shops in Venice can advise on producers and safe transport.
- olive oil and vinegar: often from the Veneto and neighboring regions, sold in dedicated delicatessens.
These products are easy to pack, usually labeled with their region of origin, and turn a future dinner with friends into an opportunity to share your experience of Venice.
where to find quality food products
Look for:
- Rialto Market area: food shops around the market selling packaged items suitable for travel
- specialty delis (alimentari and gastronomia) in districts like Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, less focused on quick tourist turnover
- stores clearly indicating origin (region and producer), not just generic “Italian” labels
Checking customs rules for importing food into your home country before shopping prevents unpleasant surprises. Many countries restrict meat and fresh dairy products but allow sealed, clearly labeled dry goods, sweets and wine in limited quantities.
luxury shopping in venice italy vs traditional artisans
Visitors interested in fashion and designer goods will also find options. Venice combines luxury shopping streets with hidden craft workshops, sometimes only a few alleys apart. The contrast between bright international storefronts and quiet studios highlights the city’s double identity as both global shopping destination and historic craft center.
designer brands and high-end boutiques
Modern luxury shopping in Venice Italy is concentrated in:
- Calle Larga XXII Marzo (San Marco): main street for international fashion brands, jewelry and accessories
- the area immediately around Piazza San Marco: upscale watch and jewelry stores, leather goods and perfume
These areas resemble high-end shopping districts in other European cities. They are convenient for combining sightseeing with purchases, but less specific to Venice itself. If you want items you truly “can only buy in Venice,” you will find them more often in smaller workshops than in global brand boutiques.
balancing global brands and local merchants
For travelers interested in both designer goods and authentic Venetian products, a simple approach helps:
- use the main luxury streets for clothing, watches and perfume that could be bought anywhere
- dedicate time to exploring side streets in Dorsoduro, Cannaregio and around Rialto for workshops, small galleries and traditional artisans
In those quieter areas, Venice merchants often own family-run shops that reflect local skills more strongly than global brands do. Taking an hour to wander without a fixed route and stepping into studios that catch your eye often leads to the most memorable finds.
how to choose: connecting purchases to the city
When deciding what to buy in Venice, useful questions include:
- Does this object relate to something Venice historically excelled at (glass, lace, trade, print, textiles)?
- Can the maker or origin be identified, or is it anonymous mass production?
- Is this something that will be used (journals, glasses, textiles, food) or displayed (masks, lace, sculpture)?
Choosing even one or two items that answer “yes” to those questions turns shopping in Venice into more than just acquiring souvenirs. It becomes a way of carrying a small piece of the city’s long commercial and craft history back home, linking modern purchases to the complex trading networks that once made Venice one of Europe’s richest cities. Each time you open a hand-bound notebook, pour wine into a Murano glass or glance at a lace detail on your table, you reconnect with the workshops, markets and canals where those traditions were born.