“Mercerie” used to be the name for a shopping street with stores on the ground floors of houses. Today it is Venice’s main shopping area, stretching from San Marco Square to the Rialto Bridge. In the Mercerie shops you can find retro souvenirs and accessories, handmade carnival masks, Murano glass items, remarkable stationery made in an antique style, household items in silver and leather, elegant and luxurious textiles, and much more.
Take note: the farther you move away from San Marco Square, the lower the prices will be. Still, no one forbids you to bargain or simply stroll through these rows with a camera around your neck, photographing these colorful shops with their countless knick-knacks - it is such a pleasure! Although, if you really intend to do some serious souvenir shopping for friends and loved ones, we recommend choosing streets farther from the tourist center. There you can not only find lower prices, but also come across exclusive little shops where there is a very good chance you will be served by the very person who created the Venetian mask or fan you are buying.
