Mona Farrugia's guide to shopping in Rome

Every time I go to Rome I say I will not return. Yes, you read right.

Don't get me wrong: I absolutely adore the food - when you can get decent, genuine, well-priced stuff - the history - when you can see past the five million Japanese and Chinese wielding the smallest cameras - and the hotels - when I can find a room at my favourite boutique hotel, which is mostly always packed.

What really irritates me though is that in Rome unless you have lot of money and an always-giving credit card (not to mention the forgiving Bank manager) the shopping becomes, year on year, worse. Oddly enough, the best shopping is concentrated around the Piazza di Spagna area where there are designer shops nestling right next to not-so-designer shops.

Here is my guide to the eternal city's best of the best. I'd love to hear yours.