We have bought lovely pieces in Seville (watercolor), Positano (watercolor), Rome (oil), Helsinki (watercolor), Verona (litho) -- that we love and were small and easy to bring home. The artists were still painting and displaying other works. Yes, I know my print processes and a giclee is something else again. I have art background. The oil painting was still damp on the canvas. All purchases are unframed and easy to carry. They were all rather inexpensive and well done in our taste. I'd rather have an original anytime. On our first trip to Paris bought a few Belle Epoque posters that I have always loved; they are always popular collectibles. Buy what you like and what will make you happy to look at in your home!

I'd forget the vinegar and buy it here in the States. But we have brought home wine taped between flipflops and it fared fine upon arrival. I have also found pretty ceramics near Amalfi and in Venice (Rosetta Ceramiche I think) and lots other from everywhere we have travelled but no longer wish to haul it back.

Thanks everyone so much! Yes I prefer the real thing too (not prints) but definitely doesn't have to be an antique or elaborate!! Just something to remind us of our trip that we would like to look at in our home :) In terms of Ceramics, maybe a nice vase or something. I hear that blown glass is really big in Italy and was told to go see a demo? Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for the tips re: the vinegar! I will stick to the $7 bottles I get at the grocery store! Why acquire a taste for the good stuff - I wont like the cheapos anymore then haha!

I would suggest that when you get to Venice you take a vaporetto out to the islands of Murano and/or Burano to see a demonstration of glass blowing, Meaganc. They have lots of glass souvenirs from which to choose.

Murano = glass blowing
Burano = lace making

We always pack a cardboard tube, approx 2 inch diameter and length of suitcase, in our suitcase. We buy prints in every country we travel to and this method works out great to bring them all home wrinkle free. I also buy small tupperware containers to pack my small glass items in. This gets them home in one piece.

I think you may find that the blown glass is very expensive for anything decent.

We have brought home a bunch of ceramic serving pieces for casual dinners - and found similar things that were about 1/3 the price of similar in NYC. They were all individual pieces - that is, the stores had similar but not identical ones. They have held up very well but I don;t put in the dishwasher. I got a lovely fish serving dish for about $50 - similar was more than $150 in Bloomies - but this was quite a few years ago and don't know if there are any deals left.

We bought a small painting in Montmatre by an artist who was working there at the time. I also collect jugs which are small and easy to pack . My collection is mainly ceramic and I try to find one that reminds me of the area eg in Sorrento I bought one covered in lemons. We found a lovely ceramic and linen shop in Sorrento