You can find the “same” clothes at a banacarella for far less than at that fancy shop on Via dei Corso. We’ve purchased GEOX shoes ay a bancarella for less than half the price of the GEOX store down the street.

The bancarelle allow the average Italian a more economical option.
The prices allow locals to shop OFTEN… and that’s necessary because “looking good” is important! Staying “in season” can be a challenge on a limited budget. The bancarelle probably offer the best “buys” in Rome.

Most of the bancarelle are located near metro stops, or on major street corners in parts of town that many tourists do not get to. You won’t see them by the Pantheon or the Colosseo, but head off into the many neighborhoods that encircle centro Rome and they are quite prevalent.

We’re fortunate to live near the Ottaviano and Cipro metro station… so we have many, many options. Often, my wife will get off the metro at the Ottaviano stop so we HAVE to walk by the bancarelle on our way home. Prices range from 50 cents to 50 euro… but most items are under €10. If you purchase more than one item, you can often “bargain” for a lower price on the second or third. I tend to avoid the one-euro clothing tables. You really have to dig through these. And saying that, when shopping at a bancarella it sometimes pays to be a little assertive! It can often get VERY crowded.

Don’t confuse the bancarelle with the guys whose goods are laid out on the street, or are standing holding a collection of “Prada” purses. The bancarelle are regulated by the City of Rome and are legal. If you buy from guy with goods laid out on a sheet, you could be fined…. not the case at a bancarelle.

So when in Rome, do as the Romans do – head for your nearest bancarelle… dig in and save!

 
You can find almost anything at Porta Portese. Sure, there are plenty of items “Made in China,” but if you search – and then dig – you can make some wonderful discoveries. Having lived in Madrid, the bargaining that goes on at El Rastro is impressive, but bartering with an Italian is an art form. 

The market is located “about” from Piazza di Porta Portese to Piazza Ippolito Nievo. You can get to the Porta Portese market by catching multiple buses, including the #280 or #23. They both get you close to the main gate. You can also, from Largo Argentina, catch the #8 tram across the Tiber. It’s the fifth stop after you cross the river. Just get off the tram when everyone else does and you’ll enter the market from Viale di Trastevere . 

 If you’re bargain hunter this is THE place to come! Many of the stands sell generic dime-store goods or apparel. A few have “reconditioned” goods at rock bottom prices. There are also antiques, furniture, appliances, utensils, and every form of clothing – you name it!

Do be careful when shopping. Gypsies will approach you and use the “cardboard” trick to try and reach into your pockets. Other pickpockets also work the area. Be aware of your surroundings. I would not bring a large backpack into Porta Portese. 

 Porta Portese was featured in the in the 1947 movie by De Sica, “Bycicle Thief”, as the main character looks for his stolen bicycle. I would imagine that a “few” things in Porta Portese arrived here by dubious means.

  We often go, wander for hours, and not buy anything. It’s a great way to spend a morning and mingle with the locals in a colorful environment. There are sometimes some very unique “finds.” The prices are cheaper than many of the “tourist” shops near monuments and sites.

Your experience at Porta Portese is what you make of it! There are places to eat or sit at a cafe’ and watch the bustle around you. Or you can “get into it,” like my wife, and dig through EVERY bin! Each week there are new vendors and “new” merchandise in the market. Now more tightly regulated than in previous years, it’s an interesting look at Roman life. If you’ve got a few hours on a Sunday morning, this can certainly be an Roman experience you will remember!