There's an absolute must buys thread for Florence so I'd thought I start one for Venice.

I'll be out in Venice in a few weeks and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We bought fabulous light fixtures, if you're into that sort of thing. Be careful about the wiring, though. (If you're from Europe it won't be a problem).

Other items: Murano glass earrings, Christmas ornaments, and picture frames,

Although it's not strictly Venetian, I bought small bottles of balsamic vinegar for gifts (and for ME of course!).

Did you have any problems bringing your stuff home?

Just looking at the airplane restrictions is giving me a headache!

Well, the two most obvious things to bring back are Murano glass and a Venetian mask. You can find both all over the city.

Unless you are buying a large amount of glass or have an unusually low weight limit, I don't think you'll have a problem on the flight home.

The real must-buys in Venice are fish and shellfish of all kinds, especially gò, the famous laguna fish (this world's best fish for fish soups - you have to prepare it yourself, won't hardly find any restaurant in Venice serving it), or moeche, tiny soft crabs eaten as a whole, with casing, legs, and pincers; and vegetables grown on the laguna island of S. Erasmo, notably zucchini and artichokes.

If you really want to buy Murano glass (most of it is horrible tourist stuff, cheap re: quality though not always cheap re: money), spend a fortune and buy yourself a chandelier at Pauly's, that's the only company that makes you understand why Murano glass could ever become famous.
If you are interested in light fixtures of great contemporary Italian design, you should pay a visit to Crovato's on Ruga Ciuffa.

Two things I bought that I absolutely love are a Murano glass winged Lion, the symbol of Venice, which I have on display in my living room. I paid about $180 a few years ago. I also bought a gold pendant of the winged lion, which I wear almost daily. It's a nice solid 18k gold pendant.

Monica

Did you buy any leather?

Should I concentrate on glass, masks and jewelry in Venice and wait for Florence for the leather?

Thanks again!

I found a shop somewhere off Frezzeria selling old and new prints and paintings of Venice, and after much deliberation I bought a sepia-toned limited edition print of Santa Maria de Salute, which I look at and admire daily!

Prints are so easy to bring home too - laid flat in the base of your suitcase.

Did it cost you more to frame it?

Well, yes, because the print was just a print on a slightly ragged piece of paper. I had it mounted and framed back at home by my favourite framer, which improved it IMO.

Almost everywhere I travel I buy a print, and I've never bought one framed. I think framing is a personal thing anyway. Prints are often quite cheap, and I don't mind paying more when I get home - sometimes several months later! - to have the framing done.

I always wish I had bought more glass jewelry! Each trip I've bought necklaces, pendants, bracelets and earrings -- and always end up giving away more than I'd planned to as gifts. They are not heavy, not necessarily expensive, pretty, and come in many styles. Just make sure you are buying authentic Murano glass (you don't have to go to Murano, it is sold all over Venice and the shops post it as such).

And another vote for prints or watercolors...old, new, small, large, framed, unframed...lots of choices,not heavy (unless large and framed!) and great mementos. I enjoy looking at mine, each bought on a different trip, every morning (they hang in my bathroom).

I don't collect the masks, but have bought the small ones (these are made for tourists, but are still lovely!) as gifts for friends, esp theater-loving friends. Again, not heavy and they "say" Venice.

Here are my two cents in the issue:
The souvenirs in Venice are expensive. So, in terms of must buys, in my humble opinion, there are none. I thought I was going to bring glass for my entire family 3 years ago when we were there. However, the prices seemed inflated, and honestly, you can find the same items (or very similar) in the US for a very comparable price, and not worry that it will break in route. Having said this, I did buy a cute Murano glass vase on the Murano island itself - I thought the choice was better, and so were the prices.
In terms of leather, same thing. I spent the entire day in Florence just looking for a sherling jacket. I found one realtively inexpensive in one of the shops, tried it on, and then went to the ATM to get cash, just to see that my hands were of this blueish-blackish color (from the jacket). Needless to say, I didn't buy anything there. But on my return to the US, I bought a great sherling jacket, made in Italy for half the price. So, the moral of the story - shop wisely and definitely compare prices.

Slightly off subject, but to those who know the area well.

When we were shopping for lighting fixtures, we seriously considered taking the train over to Mestre (sp?) to see if prices would be better. Has anyone ever shopped there? Do they have similar shops?

Agree that there are no "must buys" in Venice, other than good food and wine while you are there.

But I've bought home a few calendars. My favorite (and my gay friend's too!) had black & white photos of the "gondolier of the month."
http://calendarioromano.org/08.HTM

We just got back from Venice last night and I found a wonderful little jewelry shop in the San Aponal area. The owner designed a lot of the jewelry in silver, amber, garnets, and other semi-precious stones. Not typical Venetian souvenirs but I will be wearing them long after the Murano earrings have lost their appeal.

for future reference

JeanneB, it depends on what you're looking for. If you're interested in Murano glass - nothing to be found in Mestre. If contemporary Italian design, prices will be slightly better in Mestre, but after all, it will be hard there to find a place like Crovato's...

Some wonderful handblocked/printed papers.

Right near the Peggy Guggenheim museum there's a lovely little shop with paper/stationery and I particularly liked a little stamp with our last name initial. At this shop I bought little packs of already initial-stamped notes/envelopes for gifts--personal and personalized, reasonable, lightweight, and portable.

At the Peggy G museum and others in town I selected refrigerator magnets and bookmarks (some from paper shops, with the marbled design) for small, portable gifts.

Last holiday season I made gift baskets with a Venetian theme -- marbled paper pencils, the said personalized initial stationery, Venetian calendars (small), magnets, Doge coffee, festive pasta, Christmas ornament, and some glass "candies" as well as a nice bottle of Italian wine (from outside the region, alas).

franco:
That's exactly what I wanted to know. We loved Crovato's for high-tech light fixtures. And that was exactly what we considered looking for in Mestre. Next time we'll make a point of getting over there for an afternoon's shopping.

To answer your question, I just removed the small beautiful set of etchings I bought in Venice - although I agree with julia_t and brought home unframed prints from all over the world, this particular one was so beautifully framed in a marblized frame that no one here could have done a better job. The gallery (hope it still exists) was the BAC art studio, DD. 862 S. Vio and had lovely things. It happened to be located on a small street with the most gorgeous paper goods shops nearby - that would be my second recommendation for a Venezia "must buy."

There used to be a small antiques shop in the square right across from the entrance to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Again, I'm not positive it still exists but, if it's still there, go in and look around. I bought a delicate, lacy silver "St. Lucy's eye," about 5 inches long, which hangs directly under my Venetian etching. My children call it my Italian shrine minus the candles.

Happy shopping !!