Ventimiglia market

Will be in Nice after several years, in Sept - is it worth visiting the market in Ventimiglia?? Is it local stuff etc or is it a bit %26#39;cheap%26#39; and nasty!!!??? Is it still the case that Friday is the day to go???? Thanks for any replies.

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I went a couple of weeks ago and quite enjoyed it for the first hour or two, then it got very busy and we were glad to get back to Nice by lunchtime. The train journey was horrific; the doors open and there is a wall of people against whom you flatten flatten yourself and hope that your nose is in the armpit of someone familiar with deoderant. I would say you are vulnerable to pickpockets on the train as well as at the market. If you make a right turn on reaching the market, there are some very nice bag stalls with really good quality leather and different styles based on designer bags but not copies. These are fixed price and not open to haggling, prices from 80 to 300 euros. Seems a lot but very good value for the leather and workmanship. There is a great shop that sells leather belts from about 15 euros to 25 euros. You choose your piece of leather, then choose a buckle and it is made to measure there and then. Towards the left side of the market, it looked more cheapy sort of rubbish, fake dior bags at 3 euros etc. I was fascinated by the mostly African-looking men who were selling fake goods out of bags and suitcases, they don%26#39;t have market stalls at the market. At the first sign of the Italian Police, they mely away enmasse only to reform seconds later. We saw several tourists who had just bought from these chaps being stopped by the police and they were getting ID papers out. There has been a bit in the news in the UK about the problem of buying fakes and there is a clamp-down and tourists are being caught and fined, heftily. I would stick to the market stalls and get receipts. Mostly it is a bit %26#39;chap and nasty%26#39; but there are a few gems to be had if you persevere. best wishes

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Yes it is still on Friday mornings that every one goes to the market. Yes it is IMO too touristy (I prefer the Sanremo market on Saturday mornings). Like all public markets, beware of pickpockets One thing I like is going to the «real» market, the food market wher the Italians go. THAT is fun if you are into seeing the locals%26#39; way of life. If you understand some Italian, it is even funny to hear the,m bargain and whine about the weather. 2 hours in Ventimiglia is quite enough for me.