Favorite Italian Souvenir
Apr 27th, 2010, 01:44 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Favorite Italian Souvenir
What is your favorite souvenir from Italy. Mine has always been my little (and cheap) murano pill box - olive oil too but it ran out a long time ago. This June I'm looking forward to visiting Gammarelli in Rome and bringing back a pair of red cardinal socks. What's your favorite souvenir?
Apr 27th, 2010, 02:06 PM
#2
We had a potter, whose shop is in Montepulciano, make us a set of 4 pasta dishes. He shipped them to us the following month. They are very colourful, and remind us of what a wonderful vacation we had.
Apr 27th, 2010, 04:47 PM
#9
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Roman son-in-law!
Ok, besides from that I have several outfits, some made by a friend's seamstress that I love. Meaning the outfits not the seamstress although she is a precious woman. Most of the items I have from Italy are gifts from Italian friends when I have been in Italy or what they have brought me when they have visited here.
If the budget allows a lovely piece of jewelry is always a good souvenir. Or a beautiful Italian leather purse or gloves. A lovely Italian silk scarf if you wear scarves. Or a tablecloth or tea towels. Leather bookmarks. Italian fabric is usually over the top beautiful so if you sew, senorarroz, or know someone that does buying fabric for pillow coverings or a table runner would be a wonderful purchase. And of course there are the Italian ceramics and items from Ventian glass (do make sure that isn't made in China). Just look while you are out and about and you will no doubt see many things that will catch your eye I am sure.
Ok, besides from that I have several outfits, some made by a friend's seamstress that I love. Meaning the outfits not the seamstress although she is a precious woman. Most of the items I have from Italy are gifts from Italian friends when I have been in Italy or what they have brought me when they have visited here.
If the budget allows a lovely piece of jewelry is always a good souvenir. Or a beautiful Italian leather purse or gloves. A lovely Italian silk scarf if you wear scarves. Or a tablecloth or tea towels. Leather bookmarks. Italian fabric is usually over the top beautiful so if you sew, senorarroz, or know someone that does buying fabric for pillow coverings or a table runner would be a wonderful purchase. And of course there are the Italian ceramics and items from Ventian glass (do make sure that isn't made in China). Just look while you are out and about and you will no doubt see many things that will catch your eye I am sure.
Apr 27th, 2010, 04:48 PM
#10
Mine is a wooden box I found years ago in an antique shop in Sorrento. It's similar to one my mother was given when she was a little girl by her father. It looks like a small shelf of books with another "book" placed horizontally on top. Opening the box is a puzzle of sliding one piece of wood, then another to open a secret compartment where the tiny key is hidden. The top has both marquetry and hand painting, including the word "Ricordo" (memory), and I use it to hold small mementoes from my trips.
After that find, I now seek out antique stores wherever we go and look for small non-typical things like old keys, ornate doorknobs (which I sometimes give for use as paperweights), etc. Weird, I know, but the usual souvenirs don't move me.
After that find, I now seek out antique stores wherever we go and look for small non-typical things like old keys, ornate doorknobs (which I sometimes give for use as paperweights), etc. Weird, I know, but the usual souvenirs don't move me.
Apr 27th, 2010, 05:22 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bobthenavigator, you're a man after my own heart! 
I do love Limoncello, but my favorite souvenirs are the paintings by local artists. I have them hanging all over my home and am reminded every day of wonderful trips.
I know you only asked for a favorite, but after that, great jewelry, food from the grocery store that you can't get here (the Italian tuna packed in olive oil IS different), and cheese from Volpetti's in Rome or that little store in Bologna with the wonderful Parmagiano Reggiano or that little store in Pienza with the to-die-for Pecorino. Not to mention Murano glass from Venice or leather from Florence...Oh, did I mention the beautiful Italian ceramics? You get the idea!
I do love Limoncello, but my favorite souvenirs are the paintings by local artists. I have them hanging all over my home and am reminded every day of wonderful trips.
I know you only asked for a favorite, but after that, great jewelry, food from the grocery store that you can't get here (the Italian tuna packed in olive oil IS different), and cheese from Volpetti's in Rome or that little store in Bologna with the wonderful Parmagiano Reggiano or that little store in Pienza with the to-die-for Pecorino. Not to mention Murano glass from Venice or leather from Florence...Oh, did I mention the beautiful Italian ceramics? You get the idea!
Apr 27th, 2010, 05:30 PM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi senorarroz ,
The souvenirs I treasure most from our trip to Italy last year are the lace table runner I bought in Burano, the two Murano glass necklace pendants from Murano, three hand painted plates from Orvieto and two hand painted prints from Rome. I also bought two small leather purses in Venice.
I also treasure a small pot that I found while wandering the back alleys of Venice. We just happened upon this pottery shop and watched the potter? painting her works. Every time I look at the pot it brings me back to that day.
While nothing I bought was expensive, they are priceless. The memories attached to them could never be replaced.
Michele
The souvenirs I treasure most from our trip to Italy last year are the lace table runner I bought in Burano, the two Murano glass necklace pendants from Murano, three hand painted plates from Orvieto and two hand painted prints from Rome. I also bought two small leather purses in Venice.
I also treasure a small pot that I found while wandering the back alleys of Venice. We just happened upon this pottery shop and watched the potter? painting her works. Every time I look at the pot it brings me back to that day.
While nothing I bought was expensive, they are priceless. The memories attached to them could never be replaced.
Michele
Apr 27th, 2010, 07:50 PM
#15
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My favorite is my large paisly-like red/rust/gold colored pashmina-like wrap. It's been the perfect extra layer of warmth and comfort that I bought in Rome.
After that, it's my little red leather handbag from Florence.
After that, it's my little red leather handbag from Florence.
Apr 27th, 2010, 08:03 PM
#16
gregs317, here is someone's idea of the top 10 antique shops in Florence. I know I've been to #5 and the ones near Santo Spirito on via Maggio. Perhaps others, but I don't specifically recall.
http://www.10best.com/Florence,Italy...Antique_Shops/
We've always found artists painting and selling their pieces outside the Uffizi. These are very talented amateurs. If you're looking for higher quality works, your hotel could probably recommend some galleries for you to peruse.
There's a monthly antiques market in Florence. Last Sunday on Piazza Ciompi.
Arezzo has the biggest monthly antiques market. First Sunday and the day prior on Piazza Grande.
http://www.10best.com/Florence,Italy...Antique_Shops/
We've always found artists painting and selling their pieces outside the Uffizi. These are very talented amateurs. If you're looking for higher quality works, your hotel could probably recommend some galleries for you to peruse.
There's a monthly antiques market in Florence. Last Sunday on Piazza Ciompi.
Arezzo has the biggest monthly antiques market. First Sunday and the day prior on Piazza Grande.
