Buonconvento Shopping

History | Today | Restaurants | Museums | Shopping

Buonconvento’s non-touristy nature means that the shops aren’t abundant, but the fact that any store must appeal to locals in order to survive implies a level of quality that is often lacking in highly trafficked areas.

A few highlights

La Dolce Vita (65 Via Soccini) High quality handmade leather goods produced before your eyes by father and son craftsmen. Each piece is a handmade work of art, and likely one of a kind, as the artisans rarely produce two of the exact same color and shape. Pick out a bag and it is likely that they could whip up a belt to coordinate before your departure. Closed Sunday and Wednesday morning.

Il Soffione (43 Via Soccini) An apothecary stocked with vitamins, herbal teas, and a huge range of aromatic bath supplies with local scents.Artelier (8/10 Piazza Matteotti) An eclectic collection of carefully chosen local crafts, glasswork, pottery, jewelry, and clothing. This is a great spot for souvenirs.

Food Shopping

Le Dolcezze di Nanni (36 Via Roma) Offering breads and freshly baked goodies, Fleuriana’s shop started in Buonconvento but has since expanded to include a big factory in nearby Monteroni d’Arbia. This was necessary, as her goods have gained quite a following including Queen Elizabeth II, they are shipped to Harrods of London, and Silvio Berlusconi. A number of specialty products stores throughout Italy also carry her cookies, including cantucci (a hard, almond cookie that goes by the generic name “biscotti” in America), ricciarelli (almond paste cookies), brutti ma buoni (”ugly but good” mounds of cookie and nut), ossei dei morti (tooth cracking “bones of the dead”), and pan forte, a traditional Sienese cake, heavy with fruit, nuts, and nougat. www.dolcezzedinanni.it

Bottega delle Carni (11 Via Roma) Besides the obvious supply of fresh meats, this shop is a good place for homemade pasta like ravioli and tortellini. A house specialty is chicken in a rich artichoke sauce.

Tutta Frutta (Via Roma) One of two shops in town specializing in fresh fruits and vegetables. Hands off. Voice your selection and allow the shopkeeper to choose for you. (Even when choosing produce at the Coop, it is improper to handle the fruit directly. Use the plastic gloves provided.)

Saturday is market day in Buonconvento. Go early for the best selection, but stalls will remain open until the early afternoon. There, you can take your pick of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Other stands specialize in cheeses, meats, bread, roast nuts, and candy. Further along the walls are stands to satisfy almost any need, from kitchen equipment to socks and undergarments. It may take some searching to find quality goods, however.