Tips for Successful Souvenir Shopping in Venice
As you stroll through the streets of Venice, souvenir shops are everywhere, but a little caution is advised when shopping. Especially for ‘Venetian glass (Murano glass)’ and ‘Venetian masks,’ the reality is that the streets are unfortunately flooded with cheap, mass-produced copies from overseas.
The key is to carefully discern ‘where to buy.’ By choosing shops with their own workshops where local artisans proudly handcraft their goods, you can encounter ‘authentics’ that will become lifelong treasures. For small gifts for your workplace or friends, the golden rule is to utilize local supermarkets rather than tourist-priced souvenir shops. Stylish Italian pasta, cookies, and daily necessities, for example, can be bought at a lower price at supermarkets, making them excellent souvenirs that share a real piece of local culture.
This time, we’ll introduce four carefully selected shopping spots that embody Venice’s unique beauty and passion, which even short-term travelers should not miss.
L’albero Venezia
📍 Address: Calle dell’Ospedaletto 6376/A, 30122 Venice VE, Italy
If you’re looking for Venetian glass accessories, ‘L’albero Venezia’ is an absolute must-visit. While it’s a bit of a walk from St. Mark’s Square, you can easily find it by heading towards ‘Libreria Acqua Alta,’ one of Venice’s most popular bookstores. The name ‘l’albero’ means ‘tree’ in Italian, and true to its name, the glassworks feature intricate, deep designs reminiscent of a grove of trees that catch the eye.
The biggest highlight of this shop is that it’s co-created by Pino-san, a Venetian-born artisan who trained at a genuine Murano glass workshop, and his Japanese wife, Kanae-san. Since his Japanese wife lives locally, if you’re lucky, you can shop with peace of mind, communicating subtle nuances in Japanese. What’s especially rare overseas is that they offer partial conversion of pierced earrings to clip-on parts, a truly heartwarming service for travelers without pierced ears.
Prices vary widely, from adorable, affordable pendant tops made from leftover glass, priced around 5-10 euros (note: availability may vary depending on timing!), to authentic one-of-a-kind pieces exceeding 100 euros. Even travelers who have checked out glass products on Murano Island beforehand often end up buying in bulk, exclaiming, ‘The designs here are the cutest and most appealing to Japanese tastes!’ Furthermore, if you book in advance, you can also enjoy a Venetian glass making experience with the support of his wife’s Japanese language skills, and your finished work can be mailed to Japan later. It’s a warm shop perfect for creating lifelong memories.
Ca’ Macana Original
📍 Address: Sestiere Dorsoduro, 3215, 30123 Venice VE, Italy
As you walk through Venice, you’ll see Carnival masks sold everywhere, but if you want to get an ‘authentic’ piece that will last a lifetime, ‘Ca’ Macana Original’ is the only choice.
This workshop, continuously operating since the 1980s, meticulously adheres to Venice’s roots and traditional methods, creating all masks by hand. Its high quality has even reached Hollywood; the alluring masks heavily used in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece film ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ (starring Tom Cruise) were actually commissioned from this very workshop.
Inside the shop, a breathtaking array of masks are meticulously displayed, filling every corner, from classical and orthodox designs to intricate and artistic creations absolutely unseen elsewhere. While the prices are a bit steep, the joy of displaying an authentic piece, far superior to mass-produced Chinese goods, will give you the ultimate satisfaction of having ‘bought something proper.’
Furthermore, their mask painting and decorating experience (workshop) is very popular. There are classes suitable for children as young as five, and a cheerful, multilingual instructor kindly teaches various techniques. The warm atmosphere where you’re not rushed even if the next class starts around you, allowing you to complete your masterpiece at your own pace, is also a charm. Even if you don’t intend to buy, it’s a renowned shop worth visiting just to admire the interior like a museum.
Despar Teatro Italia
📍 Address: Cannaregio nn, Campiello de l’Anconeta, 1939-1952, 30121 Venice VE, Italy
The best spot for ‘small gifts’ and ‘daily necessities’ shopping in Venice is the supermarket ‘Despar Teatro Italia.’ Although at first glance it looks like a historic old theater, take a step inside, and you’ll find a massive supermarket! This former Neo-Gothic Art Nouveau style theater, built in 1915 and long closed, was renovated for approximately 3 million euros and reopened in 2016. It is hailed as ‘Italy’s most beautiful supermarket.’ Looking up, beautiful frescoes (such as Alessandro Pomi’s ‘La Gloria d’Italia’) stretch across the ceiling, while looking down reveals rows of supermarket refrigerators and shelves—a wonderfully mysterious and luxurious space unfolds.
The wide aisles inside ensure ease of movement, making it worry-free even with strollers or large luggage. Beyond classic souvenirs like various pastas and cookies, you can find the highly popular Italian luxury toothpaste ‘MARVIS,’ which costs nearly 2,000 yen in Japan, at a bargain price here, so it’s a definite must-buy if you spot it. There’s also a deli counter with weighed-out dishes in the back, where you can buy fresh local cheese, ham, and homemade delicacies to enjoy at your hotel.
A point of caution that might confuse travelers is that the exit gate is equipped with a security system that won’t open unless you scan the barcode on your shopping receipt. If you want to exit without buying anything, ask a staff member at a manned register to open the gate for you. Self-checkout machines are also available, making it a reliable supermarket for smooth credit card payments.
Nino & Friends
📍 Address: Salizada S. Lio, 5576, 30122 Venice VE, Italy
As you stroll around the Rialto Bridge area, you’ll likely be drawn by a sweet aroma and lively voices. That’s ‘Nino & Friends,’ a shop dealing in exquisite chocolates and Italian foodstuffs. Originating in Naples and expanding across Italy, its Venice store is bustling with customers daily.
The signature feature here is undoubtedly the ‘torrent of tasting samples’ offered by cheerful staff! From the moment you step inside, even during a stay of just about 10 minutes, they’ll offer you one sample after another of their main products, including pistachio chocolate, lemon-flavored sweets, and jams. It’s like an entertaining shopping experience where, even if you’re still chewing, a cheerful ‘Hi!’ signals the next sample handed to you.
While it’s certainly not a cheap shop, the taste quality is authentic. Among their offerings, what travelers unanimously rave about, exclaiming it’s ‘deathly delicious’ or ‘it must have something illicit in it?,’ is their ‘Pistachio & Truffle Salt.’ While it’s a luxury item, costing around 3,000 yen for a small jar, it’s a magic seasoning that instantly transforms meat or egg dishes into gourmet restaurant quality with just a sprinkle. It’s definitely a must-buy as a ‘main souvenir’ for a loved one or a treat for yourself.
Sometimes, there are friendly male staff members who speak Japanese, allowing you to enjoy lively shopping without feeling any language barrier, making this spot undoubtedly a happy memory of Venice.
