Siena, historical shops

One is the “Galleri Giocattoli”, a toy shop in 48 via Banchi di Sotto. The shop is run by the Galleri family in the same branch where the great-grandfather of the current owner founded it at the beginning of the 20th century selling a large variety of merchandise, including toys. The activity, in fact, was initially a household goods bazaar. The shop still has the same interior furnishings that date back to the early 1900s.

The other shop assessed as historical is the “Boutique Augusta” in 48-50 via Montanini. Founded by the current owner’s mother in 1945 the shop was opened as a children’s clothes shop, then transformed into a material shop that the founder, being a seamstress, used for making clothes. Only subsequently with the changing customs did the shop finish selling material and become a boutique for women. For more information see Siena’s town Hall website (www.comune.siena.it/economia) for the list of commercial and artisan activities that historically continue working in the area, keeping their traditional aspect intact.