ROME
RICORDI - Via del Corso, 506 / Via Giulio Cesare, 88 / Via
Cesare Batisti, 120 /
Piazza del' Independenza, 24.
Rome is not that kind of world's capital in which you step on a record shop in every corner. Nevertheless, you can still find interesting things to buy downtown. The biggest record shop in town is certainly RICORDI, (which you can also find in Italy's other big centers). It has 4 different adresses in Rome and is the closest you can get to a Megastore in the whole city. Don't expect low prices, unless you go to the reductions counter.
MESSAGERIE MUSICALI - Via del Corso, 123
Another downtown option, very near from RICORDI. Here you can buy instruments and partitures as well.
UMMAGUMMA - Via Fabio Massimo, 36/38
This is a small charming shop that sells new and used CDs and Videos. When I was there they had a little stock of used cds, but the prices were good and the lady told me they were going to receive more. It's on the other side of the Tevere river, near the Metro station LEPANTO. Nearby, on Via dei Gracci, there's another CD shop which I just can't remember the name (DR. MUSIC, maybe) which has good stuff for those interested in jazz, country and american rock from the 70's.
LA CICALA - Viale di Villa Pamphili, 6
These guys have a good assortment of CDs, on a nice shop. And they understand a lot about italian music. It's only a little bit out of hand, but if you plan to visit the GIANICOLO (from where you will have a very beautiful view of Rome when the sun sets), it's not that far.
MILLERECORDS - Via dei Mille 29-41 / Centro Commerciale
Cinecittá Due - Via
Tuscolana with Via Palmiro Togliatti
I have just been to the second adress, which is inside a Shopping Mall, just crossing the street from the famous Cinecittá. Here, I found some stuff with low prices.
DISCOTECA FRATINA - Via Fratina, 50-51
METROPOLE ROCK - Via Palermo, 47
These two adresses I got from a travel book. I haven't been there, so can't tell how they are. If anyone does, my e-mail is waiting for your help.
FLORENCE
MUSIC CENTER - Piazza Duomo, 15/a, - Phone 211538 -(There's another adress in SCANDICCI, at Via Burchietti-54 - Phone 253517)
There are two record shops in Florence around Piazza Duomo. After you visit the famous Duomo (and if you are brave enough, climb those hundreds of steps which almost killed me to the top of the batistery), stop by these shops. Music Center is very complete, with lots of CDs of all kinds, including some good old singles on the reduction corner.
DISCHI LIRA - Piazza Duomo, 51/r - Phone 210047 -(There's also an adress at Porta San Frediano: Via Pisana, 29/r - Phone 224478 - but I haven't been there)
This is the other shop on Piazza Duomo, which is smaller, but they use to keep a good stock of Bootleg Records(For those who don't know, bootlegs are pirate records, almost always of Live Concerts, not avaliable on normal catalogues form the recording companies. They were very popular in Italy some years ago, but recently the government finished the party with a law forbidding the bootlegs. Now you just find them in some small brave shops around Italy and in Luxembourg - see details ahead).
DISCHI ALBERTI - Bgo S. LORENZO, 45/49r - Phone 294271 / Via de Pucci, 10/20r - Phone 284346
Another shop with two adresses in town. Nothing special to tell about it, but leaving cds aside for a minute, let me give you a shopping tip of another kind: if you go to the San Lorenzo adress, don't miss the San Lorenzo market. It's a street fair, where you can buy leather and wool clothes for one of the cheapest prices in Europe. Don't be scared about the quality. I bought lots of stuff there in 1992 and I'm still using them now (1998).
MILAN
BUSCEMI DISCHI - Corso Magenta, 31
If I had to choose one record shop in Italy, this would be the one. They have almost everything from everyone, and most of it is with really reduced price. Last time I've been there, I took 10 CDs with prices around 8 and 10 dollars each. The attendants know a lot about music, and if you are into brazilian music, this is the place to search (outside Brazil, of course). And please, if you go there, don't miss the Happy Hour on the Magenta Bar, just across the street. The decoration is beautiful, the drinks are OK and the snacks are free !
SUPPORTI FONOGRAFICI - Corso de Porta Ticinense, 100
This shop is on the bohemian district of Milan, the NAVIGLI (don't miss the bars and pubs at night !). If you look for rarities, bootlegs and those records you've been searching for ages, welcome. Lots of stuff, mainly rock and alternative, but not only. Prices aren't the cheapest around, but the material they sell worths it.
VIRGIN MEGASTORE - Piazza del Duomo.
If you've been to one, you've been to all Virgin's Megastores. Enjoy yourself !
RICORDI - Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle
A really wide shop, probably built to compete with Virgin. In any case, both are wonderful. And since they are just cross the Piazza from each other, the best you can do is cross the street, compare the prices and buy wherever it's cheaper.
SAN MARINO
TOP MUSIC CENTER - Contrada del Pianello, 40
Whether you consider San Marino an independent country (which it actually is, by the way) or a nice place to visit while travelling through the east coast of Italy, one thing is truth: it's one of the nicest places to buy in Europe. Why ? First, because of the tax-reduction that make prices more diggable than anywhere around. Second, for the specialization of the shops. People who sell something in this town are prepared to SELL that something to you. Take Top Music Center, for instance. A little cd shop in an old alley, run by an old grandmother. So, you think, this lady may be very gentle, but what does she know about anything that's not Frank Sinatra ? I tell you: a lot ! The old lady not only knew and showed me exactly what I asked her on the latest releases but gave me tips on the nightclubs of the neighbour RIMINI, telling me which places were more mainstream and which were underground. Besides, the shop is very complete, with lots of Bootlegs in the bargain department and with a special feature: when you buy 5 cds, the 6th is free. Don't miss it !
MESSINA
NEU COMPACT DISC - Via N. Fabrizi, 38 - Phone 090-770622
Before you ask me where in earth is Messina, let me tell you: if you go to Sicilia, you'll be obliged to pass through this city: it's where the bridge stands on the island. I slept there one night and can tell you: there's absolutely nothing to do. Run quickly to Taormina and start enjoying this heaven on earth named Sicilia! But, if you are here for any reason, here's the only cd shop I found in town.
-
