If you are near Vietri, you will be able to find loads of ceramics for gifts - both small and large! Paper from a speciality shop in Amalfi would make a wonderful gift - since it was the paper-making capital of Europe at one time. There is even a paper-making museum in Amalfi. It is also very light to carry home! I picked up a wonderful necklace from a store in Positano - along with a pair of custom-made sandals. Lots of great shopping there!

I always travel carry-on only going TO Italy, but I have a medium collapsable duffel bag that I put in my carryon. When I am leaving I usually fill the duffel with my souveniers and check my suitcase with dirty laundry and stuff that I bought that I can't carry-on (like wine or other liquids - colatura that I bought in Cetara when I was last on the Amalfi Coast).

You'll have many choices for souvenirs. I wouldn't buy perfume unless you are very sure of the person's preferred scent type.

We've bought beautiful table linens, jewelry, wood boxes (both with music mechanisms and without) with marquetry/intarsa tops, and all manner and sizes of ceramic/pottery pieces.

The area is known for red coral jewelry, but the coral is not from the Med and some people object to harvesting living red coral. You'll also see lots of cameos, and you should educate yourself a little about cameos (even online) before you start shopping. It's easy to spend more than the cameo is worth.

My favorite souvenir from the area is a wooden memory (or keepsake) box from the early 20th C. I found in an antique shop in Sorrento.

If you are interested in gifts (not just souvenirs) the area is known for high quality cameos (as Jean mentioned). I stopped at a shop/"museum" next to /near the cathedral in Ravello, where I enjoyed seeing the craftsmen working, as well as their results - some were exquisite! It's a small shop; I have no idea how extensive their inventory is. To my surprise, there were actually some pieces on display in the price range I was willing to consider, but it was very crowded at the time; I thought I would return, but wasn't able to do so before it closed.

And as ekc mentioned, paper is a logical gift from Amalfi. The shops I stopped in didn't have much of a selection, but the paper was of very high quality - especially the VERY simple stationary. I would note, however, that paper is not necessarily a lightweight gift!

I'm sure you've already considered the difficulties of transporting ceramics on your own and the costs of shipping it. But some of the smaller, more easily transportable pieces can be lightweight enough to be very reasonable purchases -- assuming you'll be near your final destination of the trip when you purchase them. You might consider bringing some bubble wrap with you....

I brought back some lemon-themed small ceramics, as well as some of the "cream" limoncello (since I make the regular kind but not that kind). I also like the paper/stationery idea.

But what I remember most, and long for, is the candied orange peel from a shop right in the main plaza/passagiata area of Amalfi.

AnnW: Pansa, in Amalfi?




http://www.pasticceriapansa.it/

Thanks, eks -- a nice trip down memory lane!

thanks everyone--sounds like my only challenge will be finding time to shop...wondering if 4 days should have been 7!

And if you want to take home some proper Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, wait until you're at the airport - and go to the Obika restaraunt/shop, one of the last before we Brits are split off from everyone else!

http://www.pbase.com/image/139184738

Peter

Ooh, my name is deceptive because I'm not really from Yorkshire, but some mozzarella for the ride home is a fantastic idea! I have decided to never eat plane food again if I don't have to, but the way home is much more problematic for that. It won't even make it to my layover, much less the States.

We've been surprised how good they are!

After stumbling across the original branch, near the Palazzo Incontro in Rome in 2006, we've often eaten at the one in the Campo de' Fiori... getting a much wider selection there than most places in Campania offer!

Might be helpful to go to your profile and fill in even a loose description of your "Current location" ?

Peter