Walking along hints and suggestions from the windows of elegant boutiques, in the shade of ancient shops, or among the stands of colourful markets. Shopping in the historic centres of these cities is a treat for all senses. See the surprising objects by local artisans, touch the quality of fabrics and the sartorial ability of local workshops, enjoy the colours of ripe fruit or drink some wine at an old winery.

In Bergamo the shopping spree takes place in Via XX Settembre, Via Sant’Alessando and Via Sant’Orsola. The first is interesting also from a historical point of view: once known as Contrada di Prato, it connects Sentierone (where used to take place Sant’Alessandro fair) and the village of San Leonardo, which for long was the heart of the business in the city and the surrounding territory. Here arrived all goods from the port of Venice and were stored in the village warehouses to be shipped to Milan or Valtellina.
In Brescia the shopping area has a name: DUC - Distretto Urbano del Commercio or Business Urban District. It corresponds to the most ancient core of the city, where elegant and prestigious shops, fashionable boutiques, and jewellery stores open their doors to visitors. Refined boutiques and top quality selling points attract people in Monza, in Via Carlo Alberto, Via Italia, Via Vittorio Emanuele.
“In Lodi shopping mostly revolves around a famous brand: Erbolario. The name comes from the verb ‘erborare’, which means to plunge into green fields looking for therapeutic herbs. This business started in Lodi in 1978 with the objective to use herbs to produce natural cosmetics. In Lodi historic centre you can find two Erbolario shops: in Corso Roma and in Via Cavour.
In Cremona you can find a Strada del gusto (Gourmet route) that begins in the city and continues over the whole territory, but in Pavia there is Strada Nuova, the main cardo from the original Roman settlement that has become one of the main shopping streets in the city. In Piacenza the historic centre is full of flagship stores of famous brands, but apart from the main streets Via XX Settembre, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via Cavour, it is worth stopping by Via Felice Frasi with its curiosity shops.
Proceeding towards Parma, the city of good life, where you can still see the mark left by Maria Louise of Austria and her love for beautiful and elegant things, there are numerous shops for a brand new wardrobe. From the main square of the city, Piazza Garibaldi, four streets depart, offering shops of the most famous brands. But also in Via Garibaldi, Strada D’Azeglio, and in less visible areas like Borgo Giacomo Tommasini and the nearby Via Nazario Sauro, or Borgo XX Marzo close to Piazza Duomo, you can find rare shops and artisan workshops.
Mad for antiques? In Reggio Emilia, Via Squadroni, Via Fornaciari, Via due Gobbi, Via del Cristo and Piazza Fontanesi - in the historic centre – host most antique shops in the city. This is the right place to find furniture and paintings, antique jewellery, drawings and paintings, prints and manuscripts, rugs and curious objects. Don’t miss the appointment with Mercatino di Viaromantiquaria, every second Saturday of the month. Via Emilia Santo Stefano and San Pietro are the streets of fashionable clothes, jewellery stores, and famous flagship stores.
In Modena, meet the tradition of precious metals: in the many shop windows of jewellery stores in the historic centre small masterpieces and unique pieces shine brightly. In the city you can also find skilled restorers, frames workshops, bookbinders, luthiers workshops, vase makers (for vinegar). Don’t forget to visit antiques markets at Parco Novi Sad, looking for silver sugar pots, antique paintings, clocks from the ’50s and many other rare pieces.