Italy's Winter Sales Start on Saturday—But the Discount Starts Here Today

Issue #118

Happy New Year!

Here in Rome, the semi-annual sales will officially begin on Saturday, January 4 and will last for six weeks. Occurring every January and July, though the exact dates may differ from region to region, the saldi are the best times to shop in Italy, with stores all over the country offering discounts. Every January, I eagerly look forward to the saldi and use them as a chance to get great deals on clothes, shoes, accessories, or linens and other items for my home.

During the winter saldi, the New Roman Times will be discounted too—and the sale is starting two days early here. Upgrade anytime between now and February 15 and you’ll get 30% off the price of a paid subscription. No special code or link necessary.

That means that all yearly subscriptions cost $49 instead of $70. Or you can lock in a monthly subscription price of $4.90 instead of $7. So if you’ve been thinking about upgrading, now is the time to do so.

Why upgrade?

By upgrading to a paid subscription, you’ll unlock current and future paywalled issues that contain the insider intel I’ve worked so hard to gather over years of living in and visiting Italy. Highlights include my popular curated lists such as these:

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Places to Eat in Rome (2024 Update)

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Places to Shop in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Tour Guides and Companies in Rome

• 24 Places in Italy to Inspire Your 2024 Travels

• A Guide to Rome’s Essential Neighborhoods

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Gelato Shops in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Rooftop Bars in Rome

• 20 Roman Dishes You Should Try in Rome

• 10 Underrated Museums in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Pizzerias in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Beach Towns Near Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Bars in Rome

• A Very Subjective List of the Best Day Trips from Rome

• 25 Places in Italy to Inspire Your 2025 Travels (coming soon!)

You’ll also get access to my 72 Hours series spotlighting in demand destinations such as:

• 72 Hours in Rome

• 72 Hours in Venice

• 72 Hours in Florence

• 72 Hours in Perugia

• 72 Hours in Milan

• 72 Hours in Capri

• 72 Hours on the Amalfi Coast

• 72 Hours in Lecce (coming soon!)

Plus my recently launched series of neighborhood guides, including:

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Monti

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: Piazza del Popolo & Flaminio

• Rome Neighborhood Guide: The Spanish Steps (coming soon!)

Paid subscribers also get perks like exclusive discounts with my partners, including 10% off Scooteroma’s Vespa tours. Top tier subscribers who opt for a "Super Supporter” subscription get a free 40-minute consultation with me to help them plan a trip to Italy.

Perhaps most importantly, paid subscriptions help me keep this newsletter going and keep the majority of the issues available to everyone for free. The New Roman Times does not have any ads or sponsored content. I only write about places that I genuinely love and people who are worth getting to know.

Don’t take my word for it though—this is what readers who upgraded have to say:

“Stumbled upon the New Roman Times doing research into Italy for a series of trips. Love your writing; looking forward to diving in with a subscription. Thanks!”

“Looking forward to your insights as I plan my 2025 trip. I find that some of the most valuable information comes from independent writers with in-depth local knowledge. Some of our best experiences last time came from such writers and led us off the beaten path (with some trepidation) to moments of joy and contentment.”

“Enjoy reading your insightful reviews and stories of hotels, restaurants, cities and Italian places.”

I hope you will join these and other satisfied subscribers in upgrading to support my work. And if now isn’t the right time, but you still want to show your support, hit the heart button to like issues of the New Roman Times, leave a comment, or share them on Substack Notes and social media—it helps new readers find this newsletter.

Further Reading

• Wanted in Rome has the official dates for the winter sales in all of Italy’s 20 regions.

• Are you in Italy and want to know where to shop this month? Check out my very subjective guide to the best places to shop in Rome.

• If you're new around here and are curious to learn more about me, I would encourage you to read my Letter from the Editor and the About page.