Doorways, Ltd.
January 2006 Newsletter: Shopping in Italy

Dear Friends,

As anyone who has been to Italy knows, there is absolutely no problem finding gorgeous things to buy – designer fashions, custom-made shoes and boots, fine Italian hand-crafted leather, wood, paper, jewelry and ceramics. There are shops and open-air markets especially for antiques, silk and cashmere. While out exploring, it is easy to pick up small items here and there; but many of you who dream of purchasing designer clothing or a set of hand-painted china have been asking us to provide guidance about where to get the best quality authentic Italian goods at the lowest prices.

We found some excellent books written on the subject (see Website Tip). But for the real inside scoop, we turned to our most chic villa owners and asked them where they shop. Their answers opened the door to an ongoing adventure, leading us to discover the most wonderful factories, off-the-beaten-track workshops and markets in completely unexpected places. Did you know that Como is one of the best places to buy silk products in the world? Or that you can cross the border near Como into Switzerland to find Italian designer fashions in an outlet mall?

Ask us to arrange a personalized shopping tour for you in Tuscany or Umbria. Or let us find the perfect villa convenient to your shopping interests. In this newsletter, we share you some of our favorite shopping secrets. We hope it will lead the way for you to discover some of your own, which we hope you will then share with us!

Ciao,
Kit

News from Europe

Florence Airport Closing: The Florence Airport will close for renovations beginning in February. It is estimated that the work will take three months and that the airport will reopen by April 30th. Flights will be diverted to nearby Pisa Airport. Consider booking flights into Bologna, which is only an hour north of Florence. Please contact your airline for updated information.

Car Rentals: AutoEurope is offering free upgrades for cars booked by March 31 for pickup any time in 2006 in in France and Spain.

Rome: March 1-9 is Eurochocolate week, when everything revolves around sweets and the Spanish Steps are lined with 3,000 pure chocolate eggs. Enjoy the delicious festivities from the elegant Frattina Apartment (pictured left).

France: The Carnival of Nice takes place February 11-28 with floral floats, torchlit processions, and entertainment in the streets. The world's most prestigious film festival will be held in Cannes May 17-28.
Villa Panoramique, with its spectacular sea views, still has availability for these dates, but we don't expect it to last long.

Spain: US Airways resumes non-stop service between Philadelphia and Barcelona on May 16 and also operates daily service to Madrid.

News from Doorways

Meggie Tzoneva has officially taken over as Doorways' bookkeeper.

Claudio Barbaresco, Italian intern, will return temporarily to his hometown of Torino in February to host a foreign delegation at the Winter Games. Watch for his firsthand report on the Olympics in our March newsletter.

Click to read more :

• Staff Picks: Shopping tips

• On the Road: Shopping in Italy

• For the Kids: Fun Stuff to Buy

• Size Conversion Chart

The second most-visited attraction in Florence, after the Uffizi, is the Prada Outlet Store.

Website Tip

Recently updated, Books for Travelers has separate reading lists for each country and now includes materials for children as well as our top picks for books on shopping in Italy.

"My philosophy has always been to help women and men feel comfortable and confident through the clothes they wear."
— Giorgio Armani

Coming in our next newsletter

Our March newsletter focuses on Provence, France and the Year of Cézanne. 2006 marks the centennial of the artist's death.