The shops are closed in the afternoon.
po-me-RIG-gio — stress on third syllable. The 'gg' is a geminate — held slightly longer.
Know this before planning shopping in Italy. Traditional Italian shops still close for 'riposo' (rest) from approximately 1–4 pm. This varies by city, season and shop type. Missing this causes much frustration for tourists.
Italy's traditional siesta/riposo culture: shops (especially independent ones) close 13:00–16:00 approximately. Large supermarkets, department stores and tourist-area shops may stay open. Restaurants close between lunch and dinner service (15:00–19:30). Sunday closures are common. In August, many small businesses close completely for 'Ferragosto'.
A che ora riaprono i negozi?
What time do the shops reopen?
Usually around 16:00 or 16:30 in most of Italy.
Siamo in orario di riposo.
We are in the rest period.
What shop owners say when they close at lunchtime.
Il lunedì molti negozi restano chiusi.
On Mondays many shops remain closed.
Many Italian shops are closed on Monday morning — a lesser-known rule.
'Ferragosto' (15 August, the Feast of the Assumption) is the peak of Italy's summer holiday. Many small businesses close for the entire week or two around this date. Italians are constitutionally entitled to their August break — tourists who do not know this face shuttered shops, closed restaurants and skeletal services.