Favorite souvenir or purchase in Italy?

Long black leather boots in Florence. Always get compliments on them!!

LIMONCELLO !!!!

I always bring back high quality kitchen tools from my travels, if I can, something related to the distinct cuisine of the country. From Italy I brought back a silver pasta server (it looks kind of like an arm and hand with fingers to clutch the long strands of pasta). Kitchen tools are usually relatively inexpensive, not too big or too fragile for your luggage and a joy to use often at home, rather than just something to dust around. (Other examples of my souvenirs are a toast rack from England, cheese knives from France and a cake server from Germany.) Enjoy your trip.

The Pieta
The black and white book sold at the Vatican of the Pieta. It's in-freakin-credible. One of the most beautiful books I've ever bought, and it was under $10 and quite small.

Also, a beautiful limited edition Murano sculpture in Venice of a raven. It was $1500 US but worth it to me.

Steve R
USA

Another vote for Limoncello. And I also add other variations: Fragolino (same version of Limoncello but made using strawberries) and Nocino (using nuts, a bit sour, but some appreciate it).
I also suggest as a Tuscan product: VINSANTO and CANTUCCI (Vinsanto is a particular kind of old and savoury wine which is usually sipped with Cantucci, hard biscotti).

I always hit up hubs for a grat piece of 18 kt Italian jewlery from FLORENCE!!

I like kitchen/household items and beautiful coffee table photo books.

And, of course...limoncello.

The perfume made from all the local flowers on Capri....I believe my favorite is Capri Night. (Be careful, there are some imposters that claim to be the real Capri perfumes, but they are not. The locals can tell you which one is which.) They also have nice samplers in hand blown bottles that make great little keepsake gifts.

My little 14K gold Capri bell (it is equivalent to a charm for a bracelet or necklace) that represents the island lore.

Ceramics

Brunello di Montalcino wine - as much as I can carry.

Okay, what the heck is limoncello?

See the post below explaining...

local olive oil, ceramics,leather products. Hope to get lovely silk items in Como at the end of Sept.

I have to agree with Michelle Y as well, the ceramics are awesome. Unfortunately I did not bring any back with me.

Limoncello is a lemon flavored liqueur....it is everywhere in Italy.

Shoes, blue topaz ring, 18K gold charm of the Coliseum, and a crystal decantor with 6 glasses on a crystal mirror rimmed in 24K gold.

In 1973, my parents brought me a cameo from Italy to thank me for making them grandparents. That baby turns 30 next month!

Sorrento is famous for the best lemons to be found. Lemoncello made from these lemons are the best and cost the most.
Love it.

Cream colored leather jacket from Florence. Always gets compliments and have never found any leather in US stores that compares.

Ceramics from Deruta, table linen from Torgiano and an oil painting from Venice....and wine!

We purchased some hand painted pottery from a workshop right off the main square in Siena in 1999. Beautiful work and done at the site. We watched the artist working on some pieces. My wife had the vase on the table this week with flowers in it and it looked great with a Tuscan scene and colors.

Try to find something unique that is made by the artist versus the mass produced shop stuff. Hard to do sometimes, but worth it.

Clothing items are not good souvenirs as they wear out and go out of style. Just buy this stuff to use and not to keep for years.

We also have some pieces of Murano glass that we enjoy and a unique wood piece purchased at Max's in Venice. This is a neat shop to visit if you get to Venice. Just depart Harry's Bar, turn right and walk up that sidewalk. You will soon see Max's.

Limoncello? Good stuff.

My favorite souvenirs so far have been:
1.Hand made paper and pens encased in this paper from Florence and Orvieto.
2.Murano glass
3.The murano circular mosaic medallions that resemble stained glass windows...I have countless necklaces in various sizes and even a key ring!
4.Assorted dried pasta herbs from a stall in the Campo di Fiori in Rome
5.Pieces of marble from the quarries of Carrara
6.Purses and wallets from Furla in Rome
Next trip I'm hoping to bring home capers from Lipari and maybe some truffle oil!
Lisa

Abram:
I love that story. What wonderful parents! Happy birthday to your baby!

My favorite souvenir: a hand-painted water color over an artist's photograph of a Venetian canal. Not expensive, but so beautiful, and fun to frame and hang upon our return.

The one that got away: a beautiful lavendar leather blazer in Florence. Thought I'd go back and get it the next day, but the shop was closed! (Tues, I think) And I had to leave early the following day.

Hi Lizzie518,
At what shop did you purchase your Capri bell? Also did you stay overnight in Capri and if so where?

Among other goodies, I always bring home dried porcini mushrooms. They're almost weightless, keep forever, and serve as tasty reminders of our trips when used in countless recipes.

1) Gift to little nieces: Pinocchio marionettes.
2) Gifts to me: Bells to add to my collection; one Murano, some metal, some ceramic. Small boxes to add to my collection; mosaic tops, ceramic, wooden, some antique and some new.
3) Gifts to husband: Cycling jerseys.
4) Gifts to friends: Set of coasters made from olive wood.

Have been to Italy several times and have brought home many things including a complete set of ceremic dishes (actually mailed home), leather jackets, etc. But--,my most favorite item-in fact, I have more than one--are the olive wood cutting boards found in many Tuscan villages. I use them daily and each time it takes me back to where I would rather be--anyplace in Italy. In preparation for going, you may enjoy my website which gives recommedations and lots of photos of various places in Italy. Just go to to www.janeandken.com and navigate to Travel Reports and find both Italy 2001 and Italy 2003. I hope you enjoy the pages.

My wedding ring~Castellina in Chianti

Balsamic Vinegar(the stuff of which dreams are made)~ Castellina

An Etro fragrance I can't get in the US~Montepulciano

mimipam: We stayed in Capri two nights, and I highly recommend it. We stayed at the Palace Hotel in Anacapri, which is also a lovely spa. If you do a search on Yahoo for that hotel it shows some lovely pictures.....and they are accurate. It's the kind of place you dream about. Gorgeous flowers in the lobby, marble everywhere, lush fluffy bathrobes to wear to the pool, awesome restaurant, top notch service, and good location (walking distance to great shopping and to the lift that goes to the top of Anacapri). The moment we checked in they automatically upgraded us to a junior suite with our own private pool. Talk about spoiled. It was wonderful.

I believe I also bought my Capri bell at the hotel.....they have several stores right inside.

I usually don't purchase anything in Italy other than perishables such as wine and chocolates or a pottery piece that is not too big. A week or so after I return home, I buy a coffeetable book and a leather purse (furla, nannini, or other) from a wonderful department store we have in Montreal that sells those things.....
I would hate to buy an expensive handbag and crush it in my luggage. I find the designer items to not be cheaper in florence than here, once I do the converting from euro.....

I have gotten so many ideas from your above posts for tasteful souveniers all of your ideas for tasteful souveniers. How am I going to bring all of this home? What are the prices like compared to US?

Jewelry is really no bargain....(at least in the jewelry stores in Capri), but if you're looking for something small and memorable it's fine. I was also able to find a replica piece in Amalfi (read gold plated bracelet with manmade stones) that was reasonable and looks authentic. Others may offer better advice on the prices of jewelry in Florence....

Another souvenir that we adore and can be reasonable is the local art. We bought a great oil print of Positano (in Positano) that is currently hanging in my kitchen. We also bought two charcoal prints in Capri that are hanging in my bedroom. (Whenever I wake up I can look at La Faraglioni and feel like I'm back in Italy.) Both purchases were reasonable and easy to pack.

A green leather bookcover from a shop in Venice.

I've always regretted not buying a particular glass Harlequin on my first trip to Venice years ago. I thought at the time it was too fragile for travel. Well, on return trips through the years I've looked for something similar, but never found anything like it. Moral of the story ... don't pass it up if you REALLY love it!

I love cheap souvenirs. On our recent trip I bought a calendar in Florence and a tote bag in Venice from sidewalk vendors for about 5 Euros each. I'm sure neither was made in Italy, and they're both cheaply made, but I love them both and they were so light and easy to bring home. The tote bag is striped like the gondoliers' shirts and embroidered with "Venezia" in gold. A great beach bag.

Very interesting and different acrylic necklace and bracelet at Angela Caputi, in Florence. Cross Ponte Vecchio to the "other side", turn right onto Borgo Jacopo; her place is a couple blocks down on the right side of the street. On the way you will pass Osteria Cinghale Bianco (on left), a great little restaurant, delicious food, oozing with charm!

I always bring or mail home a beautiful coffee table book.

Have always found these items as great gifts or souvenirs:

Murano Glass
Leather Handbags/Purses (made in Italy)
Inlaid wood works from the Sorento Area
such as jewelry boxes, etc.
Ceramics

Cesendello lamps and silk scarves from Venetia Studium in Venice. Que belle cose hanno qua!

Topping! I would love to see more responses to this fabulous thread.

Renee
(who's trying to get more souvenir ideas for my upcoming trip to Rome!)

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LEATHER !
First time I went to Italy, I bought 5 pairs of gloves in Rome. Meant to give several as gifts, however only was able to part with 1 pair and kept the rest for myself.

Next trip it was a leather jacket from Florence; and on subsequent visits I've bought purses. And I don't buy the "name" brands (Prada, Guicci, etc); rather I seek out good quality locally made Italian works.

barb--

I definitely recommend buying 18 kt jewelry in ITALY- esp FLorence...I have been doing this for over 20 years and everytime I come home, the items appraise for 3 X the price I paid...

I go to a great jeweler on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence-called S. Vaggi...
there are 2 stores- the larger main on is on the end of the Ponte Vecchio on the Duomo side of the bridge...ASK for Roberto--he is the owner and will deal with you....

Having just returned two weeks ago, my wife would have to pick between her leather jacket from Florence, the hand painted pottery from Siena, or the bracelet from Lake Como. No hard decision for me -- Burnello!

"Burnello!"

Yeah, that's a "hot" wine. Sorry, I couldn't help it. Even though I have some buyers remorse, I'm looking forward to wearing my leather jacket I bought in Firenze (if it ever gets cool in So. Cal), and my wife is already wearing the bling bling she bought on the Ponte Vecchio.

My favorite souvenir to purchase in Italy, however is limoncello.

My wife and I are both shoppers. We alwasy buy one very nice item in each majo location for our house. Painting, ceramic, etc. She buys pocket books and I collect lead soldiesr that I have accumulated from all over Europe.

My favorites: handmade ceramic serving pieces from Positano. It has a lemon motif which will always remind me of our stay there. Also from Positano, a painting that was the exact view from our hotel room balcony. It has such bold colors with the ocean below, the church dome, and the hotels that dot the hillside. Still need to get it framed though! Also, my favorite "cheap" souvenirs are magnets. I get them wherever I travel so now I have a nice Capri, Positano,and Rome one to add to my collection! All my travel magnets make me smile every time I open the refrigerator.

One that I WISHED I would have gotten- a very lovely handblown glass Christmas ornament. I meant to go back for it while in Capri and I just ran out of time and didn't go back to get it.

JaneS

prepared wild boar ragu, hare ragu and excellent grappa

Am I the only one who thinks that 21-year old balsamic vinegar for 20E was a bargain?

Re limoncello: the good stuff is greenish. If it is very yellow, it has additives.

A bottle opener with the Pope on it, give me a break I was 21! Use it consistently to this day.

I always bring back those fun little bottles of limoncello or grappa. I have found them in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with hand decorations and inscriptions on them even! When visiting Portofino last year, I bought 7 bottles of grappa - each in royal blue bottles decorated with hand-painted violets and gold lettering - for only 7 euros each! It was a hit with everyone I gave them to (besides being a lovely souvenir to display on a shelf long after the liquer is gone!) Last month, I brought back both lemon (yellow) and melon (orange) colored limoncello in round bottles decorated wtih ceramic lemon clusters on them from the Amalfi Coast (Sorrento). Also, those cute little bottles of pesto make nice gifts too and are available all throughout Italy (although more found in the north of Italy). I always travel prepared and pack bubble wrap, sealing tape, and bags in my suitcase so I can bring back my treasures in one piece!

Hi Maitaitom,
Message: "Burnello!"
Opps - guess I was thinking about what that purchase did to my credit card!
)

a cashmere coat.

Caffarel chocolate

I also like kitchen tools that I normally don't see here in the US. Last visit, it was a cheese grater. Unfortunately it recently broke , so I guess I'm due for another visit. I've also purchased some small ceramic peices while i Orvieto on 2 ocassion, I wish I had purchase more. Lastly, I like to purchase prints that I have framed at home.

Here is what we brought home. And I would have brought back tons more, had I not been browbeat into taking a puny 24" rolling luggage bag.

- ceramics from Deruta and Gubbio (both different styles)
- table linens (dinner napkins, etc.) from Todi
- 2 expresso pots & coffee from Naples
- lemon soaps from Sorrento in shape of lemons
- calendar from Rome
- leather handbag from Rome
- silk shawl from Rome
- limoncello from Sorrento
- Pecorino and Reggiano cheeses from duty free, salami (confiscated due to dummy not reading up on prohibited items...)

DLN: Your suitcase sounds like EXACTLY like mine! When I returned from Italy after Christmas and New Years this year I also brought back parmagiano reggiano, asaggio and pecorino cheeses, as well as salami. Everything was very well wrapped and I put it inside the 2 espresso machines I was bringing back (among other things). I was checked at the airport in Milano, as well as WDC Customs upon arrival in the US and was even pulled out of line by United and searched. They never took anything from me and all my stuff arrived with me in one piece! I guess it depends on the time or the checking agent or? Among my Deruta plates, 3 pairs of childrens' shoes, 2 purses, Roma calendar, bottles of limoncello and other misc things I brought back last month, I brought back cheese again and no one took it out that time either!

1. A bottle of Fragolino (an Italian dessert wine-- it tastes of strawberries because the grapes are grown in the same field as strawberries).

2. A gorgeous piece of Amalfi pottery-- a serving dish purchased in Positano.

3. Coffee beans and cappucino cups from Caffe Sant'Eustachio in Rome.

Two little Capodimonte dolls in beautiful costumes for $6.00 each. We bought them at a roadside tourist stand in Tyndari - Sicily - by the basillica. I have seen them here in Boston in an e xclusive shop for $85 each - same dolls!

Unique artworks from Bac Art Studio in Venice - had them framed and they're a constant reminder of our trip last year. Very reasonable prices for limited edition prints - in San Polo

Some of my favorites: A small water color that I bought at an art show in Bellagio; Ceramics; Venician glass birds; Grappa (especially the Grappa I bought in Pisa in small Leaning Towers - adorably tacky!); spices; linens; a good leather purse. I'm sure there are more, and I'm sure I'll discover more when I am there in February -- can't wait.

I bought ceramics in Siena, Marbled paper goods in Florence,religious souvenirs in Rome. I was wodering if you shoppers could help me? I've been home 5 days and after lugging my 22" carryon everywhere in Italy I decided to check my luggage for the flight home because I got very sick my last day in Italy. And , you guessed it, my luggage is still out there somewhere. I have faith it will show up some day. I bought some Holy cards and medals at a Vatican Museum store for relatives and don't have the heart not to have anything for them. Does any one know a mail order source or web adress so I can try to buy some replacement souvenirs? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks

Bluebird, that's too bad that you lost your precious gifts! Try this: go to any search engine--Yahoo, Google, etc. and type in "Vatican souvenir gifts" and you will come up with several places that might help. Www.romegiftshop.com is one of them. I tried a similar approach because I wanted to order some extra souvenirs from Italy myself.

For ceramics, try Antica Siena, I don't know the website address but I know they have one and ship to the US (I'm waiting for my package to arrive right now).

Hit post to soon...also try madeinfirenze.it for papers and leather...

Hi bluebird,

Have faith. Your luggage will show up.

Hi barb,

My lady wife also collects refrigerator magnets as souvenirs.

TTT

On our 1st trip to Italy, we were just happy to be there and didn't bring home a lot of things. Our 2nd trip was in June and it is a good thing we had a couple of empty duffle bags....we packed Brunello wine, limoncello, dried porcini mushrooms, olive oil,silk scarves and ties, a jewelry box, and on and on. My favorite thing is the navy blue leather coat from Florence that was tailored just for me and mailed later. We also bought a lazy Susan in San G that was handpainted to match our wall paper and fabric in our home. This was also mailed and arrived in perfect shape. Needless to say, I was almost embarrassed with all of our suitcases as we left Italy, as we pride ourselves on packing light. Can't think of one thing I'm sorry we brought home though !

Truffle Oil....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I agree with artwork. Our dining room walls are covered with paintings of the places we've been. It's a great conversation starter when we host dinner parties!

Definitely the exquisite pottery that we brought back. Everytime I look at these pieces it brings me right back to Italy!

a jar of pesto from the cinque terre...heaven...(treated like fine caviar in our household)

I met the owner of WIXONGLASS.COM when I was in Florence. The guy does amazing and reasonable glass gift work!!

Paintings from the artists themselves and be sure to have a photo taken with you and the artist. I prefer to pack them flat (as opposed to rolling). Buy a newspaper or take along some manilla files to keep them from getting damaged.

I have bought a lot of small ceramics as gifts which I've tucked into my luggage. However, I've purchased some huge centerpieces and wall plates that were shipped to me. The shipments have always arrived safely. Even though you pay for the shipping, it gives you the peace of mind that your treasures/memories will arrive in one piece and you're not carrying them around with you hoping for the best.

If you are brave enough to try oils, vinegars or wines, take along with you a new bag called a wine sleeve which I believe is available in liquor stores in the US. I haven't used them yet, but they are supposed to seal completely in a double safe packing that protects the bottle from breaking and/or leaking.

Forgot one thing - if you pass any antique shops, do stop in. Some of my best souvenirs have been lovely pieces from Italy, France and Portugal which have some of the country's history along with my own memories of the trips.

Any recommendations on how to best bring via airplane or mail things home ? We will be going in September and I'll have the obligatory small wheeled luggage also - not condusive to a lot of space. I KNOW I want to bring home Lemoncillo.

I just recently saw a duffle bag that can be rolled up into a small bag that I thought might give me xtra carry home space if I packed it into luggage.

I absolutely adore Venetian glass and masks. I have a lovely colourful clock hanging on my wall which I just love. Can't wait to go back and buy a suitcase full of more bits and pieces of glass !!