|
|
Illegal Street VendorsCounterfeit Handbags in Venice In Venice, as in other Italian cities, you're likely to encounter street vendors--most of them from Senegal or Bangladesh--who hawk counterfeit designer purses, bags, and (more recently) belts and sunglasses at bargain prices. The peddlers are nicknamed "vu compra" because many of them use that grammatically inelegant Italian phrase to ask "Do you want to buy?" Should you purchase a fake designer product from a street vendor? The answer to that question isn't simple, but below are some pros and cons to help you reach your own decision.
ABOVE: "Vu compra" street vendors sell fake purses and luggage on the Calle Larga XXII Marzo, west of the San Moisé church and the Piazza San Marco. Reasons to buy:
Reasons not to buy:
If you still can't make up your mind, read an article from The New York Times (via the International Herald Tribune) titled: "In Italy, 'buying a fake bag isn't a joke'--it's a crime." And for a fictional view of the vu compra, read Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti mystery novel, Blood from a Stone. |
Hotel tip: Location can be important when choosing a hotel in Venice or on the mainland. Before booking, read our No. 1 Warning and Venice Hotel Recommendations by Area.
From our Venice Travel Blog:
A water taxi ride to Venice Airport
Venice Railroad Station: a vaporetto view
From Maggie in Venice:
A dog's life in Venice Venice cruise review: |
|
| About us | Contact | Testimonials | Audience | Disclosures | Privacy | Copyright © 1996-2012 Durant Imboden,
Cheryl Imboden, and their licensors. |