Margo wrote:
I like to use BING to translate. All you do is highlight and right click on the text that you want to translate, then choose the "translate with Bing option". Bing will also translate English to another language too.

Thanks for the info, Lori. I really appreciate learning about your experiences and tips! We're looking forward to this trip and hoping to come home with some mementos of our own! Ciao!

When we were in Rome, I searched diligently for any fabric stores. We even asked at the hotel desk and they didn't seem to know what we were even talking about (they didn't speak very good english). They finally directed me to a HUGE fabric store, but pretty much all of the fabric was geared for making clothing. But there was room after room after room, with bolts stacked all the way to the ceiling! Mostly for making men's suits or fancy women's cocktail type dresses. And the people working there were all men. In Florence, I did find one silk store but it seemed to be geared for making home decorations or draperies. I did pick up a few pieces in both places just for momentos. When we were in Palermo (Sicily), I didn't even ask as those people even spoke less english than the "regular" italy. Have fun searching! Italy is fantastic for just wandering the old cobblestone streets and checking things out! Oh.... this was all in the city center parts of town because that's where we were staying. Maybe if you're out further in the city, there's more selections.

WOW, Renata! This is great information! Thank you so much. I shall certainly follow up on your recommendations! Thanks, again! Ciao!!

If you go to the site: http://www.quiltitalia.it (the Italian Association for Patchwork, Needlework and related arts), you will see on the left side tabs for different sections. Go to and click on “Negozi e Laboratori.” There you will find a page that gives you by region quilt stores that have signed up to advertise. In many instances, they provide web pages to peruse. If you are interested in fabrics, look for the words “tessuti” or “stoffe.” Both mean “fabric.”

Firenze and Lucca are in Toscana. Rome is in the province of Lazio and Cinque Terre is in Liguria. Do peruse the provinces because you may find other towns you would not mind visiting in the areas you intend to be in.

You can also go to http://www.cosman.nl/maps/list_en.php?cn=it to find a list of stores in various cities in Italy. Many have web sites so you can see whether the shop is of interest to you. Beware, some stores sell sewing machines primarily, but the website will show sewing machines and no fabric.

CINQUE TERRE

Did not find any quilt shops in or around Cinque Terre. Frankly, I did not expect to. Cinque Terre is best known for its beautiful panoramic views. Great inspiration for art quilters…

ROME

Aghi e Fili Merceria is a quilt shop in Rome. See http://www.aghiefili.it/ and click on “entra.”

Also in Rome, Il Mondo di Pezza at: http://www.patchwork.it and email: mailto:info@patchwork.it . I get the feeling you can send an email in English and get a response.

Finally, Mani Cuore e Fantasia is a shop in Rome. You can find this shop at http://www.manicuorefantasia.com/

FLORENCE

In Firenze, Ago Mago seems to be a pretty interesting store. You can find it at http://www.agomago.it/.

I did not find anything in Lucca.

I only did a search for quilt shops; I did not look for fabric shops in general. However, both Florence and Rome have some pretty fantastic establishments. I am confident you can do a search in English and find two or three top fabric houses.

Finally, if you go the website http://www.quiltitalia.it (the Italian Association for Patchwork, Needlework and related arts) and click on Associazioni Affiliate and go to the section for the province of Lazio (Rome), you will find three guilds. Click on scheda on the far right and you will find email addresses for the three guilds. They are all just outside Rome. Perhaps you can email them and ask about other stores. I am sure someone in the guild will be able to read your English language email.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you find!

Thanks, Margo! As always, you're a terrific resource!! Excellent idea and info, though I don't have Google Chrome....but the Google I do have has a feature to accomplish just what you suggest! Yay!!...I would still like to have any fabric shop recommendations that fellow quilting travelers might offer.

Oma, I don't know what Internet browser you are using, but Google Chrome has an option that offers you the option to translate websites into English!
Is that cool, or what!!!

Click on the little wrench icon in the upper right corner of any page. Select OPTIONS.
From the menu on the left of the screen select UNDER THE HOOD.
Beside TRANSLATE, check the box that says "Offer to translate pages that aren't in a language I read"

When you go to a site in a different language, there will be a box at the top of the page asking if you want it translated!

Thanks! I've looked up some sites, but, of course, info I found was in Italian and that wasn't helpful. So, Renata, if you find anything in Florence, Cinque Terre vicinity, Lucca or Rome, I'd be glad to know about it! Thanks, again!

What cities in Italy are you looking for quilt shops in? I'll be happy to do a google search in Italian.

Did you search TQS for quilt shops in Italy, using the search feature? Nevermind, I just did and got no results. I suggest that you e-mail TQS members in Italy or search the web.

Looking for quilt or fabric shops in Italy. Any recommendations?
Quiltin' Oma