San Lorenzo, with the largest university in Europe on its doorstep is home to the funkiest, trendiest and without a doubt most original crowd in Rome. Any arty bohemian type will absolutely LOVE this area. The shops are the most original in Rome and will provide you with hand made, well….anything. The shops are all located down narrow alleyways, in rickety old buildings and will have you craving for more. Below I’ll guide you to a couple of the most original shops in Rome, a kind of ‘unique boutique’ guide if you will.

The Red Framed Shop

This boutique has no actual name but is just recognised by its façade (red frame). It often appears to be closed but is in fact some sort of mystical Harry Potter style shack, where you have to knock to be let in. The shop contains allsorts of hand made clothes and accessories. As everything is hand made, you’re pretty much guaranteed to be wearing a very original outfit by the end of your visit. If you find something you like that’s not in your size or if you find a style that you like, but aren’t sure of the colour or even if you want to mix two styles, then they’ll do it. It’s a sort of custom made, design your own top kinda shop.

Claudio Sanò

This genius designs and makes his own bags all within the four walls of his cute boutique. From lip shaped clutches to overnight bags that look like they’ve been bitten into by some sort of gigantic animal, you can find anything. And even if you don’t, he accepts custom orders so you can sit with him until he designs something you fall in love with.

One thing is for sure; you won’t find any high fashion designer labels or high street stores anywhere near San Lorenzo. Go for a wander around the area as it’s almost impossible to write a guide on the shops as over half of them don’t seem to be there and the other half are so well hidden that the chances are, you’ll never be able to find them again. Most of them don’t have names and quite a few are locked until you knock; so don’t be afraid, go for a wander, knock on some doors and make the most of any shop that you like as who knows when you’ll find it again. My favourite shop of this area is a jewellery shop that has allsorts of interesting hand made pieces, but as expected with this area, I have no name nor do I know where to find it again. San Lorenzo is a hidden world within Italy’s capital.

If you are looking for somw quiet Rome accommodation then I advise you not to stay in San Lorenzo, which is known to be the student village of Rome. There are some levely Rome apartments and hotel in Rome from which it will only take a few minutes to walk to almost everywhere.