  Specialty Stores Alimentari Small, neighborhood grocery store. They are everywhere and they are charming and helpful. Everything from toilet paper, water, sodas, wine (under 5 Euros!), produce, breads, cheeses (cut to order), bottled tomato sauce (pilati), salty snacks and biscotti (packaged cookies) and deli meats. The literal translation of alimentari is food. Everything you need to stock your rental villa's fridge or for a picnic is here. Panificio Bread baker (also, Panettiere, Panetteria or Forno--literally, oven), usually referring to a larger bread bakery. Forno Antico usually designates a bakery with older, historic, wood fired ovens that makes regional breads, but also may offer other things such as pizza, foccacia, tarts (savory or sweet) and pastries. Pasticceria Pastries, cakes (sometimes bread) Enoteca Wine shop (in our experience, mostly packaged tourist wines. Supermarkets and alimentari also have wine and liquors) Formaggeria Cheeses Frutta e Verdura Fruits and vegetables, Also Frutteria. Gelateria Ice cream (gelato and other frozen treats) Because many gelateria are open during riposa (the 2-3 hour lunch closure), we found many in smaller towns also offer light lunch snacks. Confetteria Confections, candies. Latteria Dairy (milk, butter, cheese). Also, Cremeria. Salumeria Cold cuts, cheese, salami, some canned goods (also called a Pizzicheria in some regions) Macelleria Fresh meat, salami, and sausage Rosticceria Take out and eat-in roasted foods, usually meats and vegetables Pescheria Fish Supermercato Supermarket. Some are national brands, like Carrefour, Coop, Crai, Essalunga, Auchun and Conad. These stores can be very large and located just outside town centers, while others are smaller. In cities you will see very small looking supermarket entrances, but they open up into much larger spaces. Bring a cloth or mesh bag and bag your own groceries. They charge for plastic shopping bags. Wear the provided plastic gloves when picking produce. Pizzeria Pizzeria. Many offer other dishes for lunch and dinner, and some are now offering pizza by the slice, or "al taglio". Bar Espresso or cappuccino for breakfast with pastries; sandwiches for lunch. Especially in smaller towns, this type of shop is the only place for you and your family to find something lunch. Most Italians (even working in restaurants) go home for 2-3 hours from 12-3pm for riposa, similar to a siesta. Tabacchi Tobacco products, lottery machines, various sundry items. Often combined as Bar-Tabacchi. (Unlike in U.S. cities, where "bottega" is specifically used to mean a local, small grocery store, in Italian, the word literally means "shop", and can have another word attached to describe what type of products it carries.) Osteria Tavern, often with simple food choices like sandwiches, pizzas, foccacia, especially during Serenissima, or Happy Hour. Also, Taverna or Trattoria. Birreria Micro Brewery. Panineria Sandwich (panini) shop. Panellari In Sicily, a street vendor or small shop selling chick pea fritters and sandwiches. Hamburgheria Just what it sounds like.  Non Food Stores
(Note: the word Negozio means Shop.) Farmacia Pharmacy Edicola News-Magazine shop Drogheria Dry goods, canned goods, kitchen and household items. Even though it might sound like it, this is not a drug store. Ottico Optician Parrucheria Hair dresser (women) Barbiere Barber (men's) Lavasecco Laundry-Dry Cleaners (Drop-off service, often hard to find. As a local). Lavanderia a Gettone Laundromat (There are some chains, like Ondablu or Ecolava, but many are independent shops, often difficult to find. Once again, ask a local.) Mesticheria Hardware Sarto Tailor Libreria Book shop Cartoleria Stationers, office supplies, paper goods. Immobiliari Real Estate Scarperia Shoe store Sportivi Sports Cartoleria Stationary Store Vetreria Glassware, giftware. Gioielleria Jewelry Negozio di Abbigliamento Clothing shop Biancheria Undergarments, linens. Gioielleria Jewelry Store. Negozio di Giocattoli Toy shop. Also, Giocheria. --Jerry Finzi |
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