Hi All,
Going to Rome and Florence in May. Was wondering, what are your must-haves to bring home for self, family and friends?

Lots of food items! To supplement the responses you get here, you should do a search, as this subject has been covered here many, many times..

Here is one that I began before one of my visits:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34736124

Here is another thread on the subject:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34827548

In Florence look for lovely handpainted ceramic pieces, scarves, and leather items.....

In Florence, I am a sucker for Il Bisonte leather goods. Absolutely gorgeous. They have stores in NY and LA, but they don't carry everything that you will see in Florence. Plus the store is beautiful - the smell of the leather is amazing.

I also love the Italian paper goods. Stationery is a great gift, as are photo albums.

bookmark- thanks!

I like to collect old maps and drawings that have a geographical theme. In both Florence and Rome, we located reproductions of Renaissance era map/drawings of the cities. We found the Florence piece at a little art shop near the Duomo for 35 euros (framed). In Rome, we went to the Piazza Fontanella Borghese, where art and book dealers set up for business each day. We haggled with a dealer, and finally bought a reproduction print of Rome (unframed) for 50 euros. These prints are hung in my office, so I can remember our trips with just a glance at the wall.

Florence: little watercolors by the artists outside the Uffizi. Some are exquisite landscapes. For about $15 each three years ago, I bought a couple that are now framed & a great reminder of my trip.

Also in Florence the little gilded boxes and trays. One little shop that has very nice items is in the piazza by Santa Croce. As you enter the piazza coming from Piazza della Signoria, the little shop is on your right in the corner. It's full of merchandise!

And the scented soaps and lotions in the pharmacy in Piazza della Signoria (next to the pizza place: a tiny store) are a dream! I'll definitely be stocking up on them!

Of course, if you have the budget you should definitely buy leather in Florence. You'll find jackets, shoes and purses in colors that you never see in the US. And the dyes are far superior; my green jacket looks as nice now as it did three years ago. The gloves I bought at home to go with it are now some indistinguishable shade.


We bought a little painting from a street vendor in Piazza Navona in Rome--another inexpensive, but special reminder of our trip.

Pocket Coffee! A delicious bitter chocolate with a shot of liquid espresso inside.

As for the leather, you can find good buys on smaller items too such as belts & wallets.....

After reading all of your great suggestions, I am thinking of adding a little more to my budget!! Thanks everyone.

Hi elcon, when in Florence if you want to buy "thinking of you" presents for others their leather bookmarks are beautiful and last forever and of course are so easy to pack and so inexpensive. They are wonderful to buy for yourself also. I have many and they always make me smile.