Best Art Shops in Rome according to an Artist
I’ve only visited a handful of art shops in Rome, one being an obscure spot near Castel Sant'Angelo back in 2013, where I stained my pastel blue satchel with irremovable black ink. No regrets though. A souvenir of my questionable decision-making skills.
Fast-forward to October 2024, I returned to Rome with a new mission: to uncover its oldest art shops. My previous video about Paris’s oldest art store (1887) was well-loved by viewers (thank you very much!), so I thought, with Rome’s rich history, it surely must have some hidden gems worth discovering. Turns out, some of them are even older than L. Cornelissen & Son in London and Magasin Sennelier in Paris. Proper rivalry for the title of oldest art shop.
Bordi (Officially 1910, Actually Early 1800s)
Bordi is a charming little art shop located not so far from the Vittorio Emmanuele II monument. Officially, it dates back to 1910, but after speaking with the owner, I learned that it actually began around the early 1800s. Unfortunately, they lost the official documentation somewhere along the way, so they don’t officially hold the title of Rome’s oldest art shop.
That doesn’t stop Bordi from being recognized as part of Rome’s cultural heritage. Stepping inside felt more like entering an old art teacher’s atelier than a typical shop. Shelves were brimming with unique handmade supplies, and no matter how much I tried to focus, my eyes never settled on the same thing twice.
Bordi is particularly famous for its handmade Italian soft pastels. They looked beautifully crafted and richly pigmented. They also carry many classic Italian brands like Fabriano, DiVolo, and Tintoretto. What stole the show for me were the elegant wooden painting boxes, complete with leather handles and golden metallic hinges. Simply beautiful.
And then there’s Charvin. If you’re familiar with this French luxury art brand, you know it’s not something you casually find in every shop. Bordi has a special relationship with Charvin, whose representatives regularly host workshops there. I’ve only known Charvin by its premium prices, so seeing their products in real life for the first time was oddly exciting.
Ditta G. Poggi (1825)
Ditta G. Poggi is officially Rome’s oldest art shop, located just a short walk from the Pantheon, my favourite monument in Rome. Absolutely breathtaking, every single time.
Unlike Bordi, Poggi is bigger and packed floor to ceiling with art supplies. Think classic pigments like emerald green, cadmium red, and ultramarine blue, plus a seemingly infinite selection of brushes: cat's tongue, spatula, sunburst, ox hair, and even the highly prized marten hair. They carry brushes from Tintoretto, Raphael, and Da Vinci (which, fun fact, is actually a German brand. I was surprised too).
Gouache lovers, take note: Ditta G. Poggi carries Maimeri, one of the best brands out there, comparable to Linel by Lefranc Bourgeois. Although, let’s be honest, Holbein remains undefeated.
Ditta G. Poggi also has an entire room dedicated to fine art paper, including Fabriano (founded in 1264), Magnani 1404, Arches, and many more.
Fabriano, for those unfamiliar, is a small Italian town famous for its high-quality paper. The brand was established in 1264 and throughout centuries introduced major innovations in papermaking, such as watermarks and gelatin sizing for durability.
Magnani 1404 intrigued me the most. It’s older than Arches (1492), and the packaging is beautifully vintage. Fabriano, although older, has a too-modern design for my taste. Yes, I judge books by their covers and art supplies by their packaging. Magnani 1404 is highly regarded for its cotton paper, but I initially hesitated due to the price. Of course, I later regretted that decision and ended up ordering some from Jackson’s Art in London. I couldn’t resist trying such a prestigious paper.
Bordi vs. Ditta G. Poggi: my verdict
Bordi felt very personal: a small, family-run business with a rich history and a warm, intimate atmosphere. The staff knew their customers well, offered guidance, and truly mastered their supplies. Poggi, on the other hand, felt like stepping into an art academy’s teachers’ room, with every inch dedicated to art materials ranging from student-grade to professional.
Both shops were beautiful in their own ways. In Bordi, I imagined artists carefully choosing handmade pastels while chatting with the owner about their latest creations. At Poggi, I pictured professional painters restocking their studios with Maimeri gouache and Tintoretto brushes.
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I genuinely loved both art shops. Rome is always magical, and Italian art shops? Even more so. The liveliness, the classic Italian supplies, and the feeling of stepping back in time was truly wonderful.
If you ever find yourself in Rome looking for a piece of artistic heritage, visit these shops. And when you do, think of me.
Free Printable Portrait Art - “Osaka People”
I recently went to Osaka and painted cool fashionable people. Here are the digital versions of what I painted in Japan. Printable up to A5 format. I hope you enjoy!
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