Where Buying Antiques and Vintage Décor around Lake Como to Add a Rétro Flair At Your House
Image by Leticia Ribeiro
Antiques and vintage stuff in general have the incredible power of creating unique interiors full of personality. Here at Lakeside we are literally fond of this kind of decoration!
Pic by Charlotte May
Steeped in history, vintage pieces have so many stories to tell, whether it's a dusty old heirloom from your grandma or a lucky find picked up at a yard sale.
Local yard sales in particular, with the exhibits of antique dealers, junk dealers and artisans, are interesting opportunities to hunt for ancient objects, prints, records, photographs, war relics and handmade products at (generally) good prices.
If you’re passionate of antique trade, modern antiques, and brocantage like us, you’re in the right place: in this article we've rounded up a selection of antiques shops, local markets and lovely yard sales of Lake Como where you can bump into awesome vintage finds! And if you don’t mind driving a little bit across Lombardia, we also added some equally interesting spots in other cities of the region.
Ready? Buckle up!
Pic by Eric McLean
Antiques shops and yard sales in Como and its provinces
Como, Piazza San Fedele: antiques market with 25 stands every first Saturday of the month;
Como, Bottega D'arte Di Mario, Alessandro & Andrea Lombardi (Via Armando Diaz 18): iconic shop for antiques in Como;
Como, Callea Antiques (Via Armando Diaz 50): one of the best antiques shop in town, for very (very) refined pieces and artworks;
Como, Maspero Libri Antichi (Via Cadorna 22): a very well-stocked antiquarian bookshop;
Como, Mercatino dell’Usato C’era una Volta (Via Bellinzona 216): a covered market of quality vintage stuff (mostly little items) at affordable prices.
Carimate, at the castle: every third Sunday of the month (not in July and August), 40 stands of antiques;
Villa Guardia, Mercatopoli (Via Varesina 7): a good choice if you’re after little decorative items. The same shop is also in Regoledo, Sondrio;
S. Fermo della Battaglia (Piazza don Praier): antiques and craftsmanship market every third Sunday of the month (August excluded);
Albese con Cassano, Il Poeta (Viale Lombardia, 37): very very messy and with a pretty quirky owner (not always particularly friendly). It’s a sea of little and big knick knacks (not all precious), but worth taking a quick tour if you have time: it’s unlikely you’ll go out empty-handed.
Calolziocorte (Lecco, Loc. Lavello): antiques market, second Sunday of the month (August excluded). 100 stands!
Malgrate (along the lakeside promenade): “mercatino dell’antico.”. First Sunday of the month, 50 stands of antiques;
Imbersago (Piazza Garibaldi): historic antiques market held twice a month between March and November. There are many things: paintings, furniture, ornaments and objects of various kinds. Not everything is ancient, you have to look hard but you could find something interesting!
Lecco, Stamperie Antiche (Via Trieste 15/A): antique dealers specialized exclusively in (amazing) antique prints!
Gera Lario, Antichità Fuentes (6 v. Strada Statale): for antiques, statues etc.;
Colico (Piazza Garibaldi): the traditional "Hobby, antiques and vintage street market" takes place every Sunday until 30th October 2022 from 9am to 6pm.
Bellano, Il Mercatino (Via Plinio 6). Open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (mercatinodibellano@gmail.com). There’s almost only high quality goods of artistic and antique interest, furniture, paintings, objects, sculptures, etc. Fantastic setting: a former convent dating back to 1600!
Gravedona ed Uniti, Marioli Cornici (Via Carlo Cossoni 7): they sell awesome frames but also antiques and restored old furniture.
Pic by Charlotte May
Valtellina region
S. Pietro (SO), Antiquario Elio (Via Nazionale 25): 500 square meters with a large selection of products including furniture, clocks, paintings, candelabra, mirrors, ceramics, bronze sculptures and various objects.
Dubino, Antichi Ricordi (Via Valeriana 45): here you can find original vintage furniture typical of the Valtellina and the Lower Engadine, restored with care and a lot of passion. You can also buy ancient and modern objects typical of the Rhaetian valleys, super antichi unique: paintings, ceramics, furnishing components, tools of daily life and of the peasant and handicraft activities of our ancestors. The activity also includes a large carpentry workshop available both for repairs and for the execution of custom-made furniture with vintage wood.
Ardenno, La Careta Antichità e Restauri (SS38, 101);
Valtellina Antichità Restauri s.n.c. di Gianola Paolo e C. (Via Stelvio, 601/A, 23020 Montagna In Valtellina SO). The owner is very kind and can tell you A LOT about his extraordinary pieces!
Pics from Antichi Ricordi website
Other markets around Lombardia
The antiques market along Naviglio Grande in Milano takes place on the last Sunday of each month along the entire first stretch of the Naviglio Grande, from viale Gorizia to the bridge in via Valenza, on a path of almost two kilometers all overlooking the banks of the oldest canal in Milan. Monthly hosts more than 380 exhibitors of antiques, with two streets, Corsico and Paoli, dedicated to quality vintage. The exhibition hosts carefully selected stalls and carefully checked at each edition.
East Market: this is the first marketplace where everyone can buy, sell or swap any kind of stuff and where you can find antiques, furniture, vintage, second hand, sneakers, vinyl, curiosities, oddities and old collections. The dates of this event change every month, so be sure to check their website! Its location is an old aeronautical company, entirely renovated in via Mecenate 88/A, Milano.
Milano, Addio al Passato (Piazza de Angeli 14): an interesting shop selling pieces from the ‘40s to the ‘80s, plus precious items from 1700-1800. Open every day, except Sunday and Monday.
Milano, Crazy Art Antichità e Follie (Via Merabo 18): 800 square meters of pure extravagance. Open every day except Sunday.
Milano, Carrozzeria 900 (Via Padova 29): set in the courtyard of a lovely railing house, this shop is a paradise for modern antiques, antiques and vintage. The focus is on pieces dating back to 1800s and 1900s. Open only on Saturdays (during the week only by appointment).
Milano, Atelier Bellinzona (Via Farini 29): the reference address for vintage furniture in the cool Isola district. Open every day except Sunday.
Assago, antiques market (in front of Forum di Assago): all Sunday mornings. 200 stands of everything ancient.
Corsico, antiques market with 200 stands (Via Togliatti): all third Sundays of the month.
Novate milanese, DOCK41 (Via Damiano Chiesa 41C). Open every day (10-13 and 14-19) except Sundays. In this (huge) space that used to be a warehouse you will literally find everything: there are objects of all kinds, mainly coming from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Bergamo alta (Piazza Angelini): yard sale every third Sunday of the month.
Bergamo, La Soffitta in Piazzetta (Vialla d’Alme, Piazza dell’artigliere): yard sale every first Sunday of the month.
Pavia, Piazza della Vittoria: 90 stands of antiques, all first Sundays of the month.
Check out all markets of Lombardia here!
Pic by Bo Allen
Are you passionate of everything “vintage” and looking for a period property around Lake Como?