Specialty Food Shops

The large suburban grocery store is a fairly recent addition to Italian life. The more traditional food stores are small specialty shops located in every town. In both the neighborhoods and in the downtown area of any city or town, one can find a butcher, a fish store, a cheese and milk shop, a fruit and vegetable shop, hand-made pasta shops, as well as bakeries and stores where one can buy homemade chocolate, sweets and breads. Water, wine and soda is available in many of the stores. Food stores are closed one morning or afternoon per week during the year and usually Saturday afternoons in the summer.