bratsandbeer

readytotraveltoo It is a common brand of socks made in Italy. I tried to find it online but no luck.

I think the shop could be along the busy street the station is on and about 3 blocks south or south/east from the train station. In Florence, we do so much walking around that I am not positive. Perhaps there are more than one of these shops in Florence. I am sure if you are walking around you will see one. Also, you may see them in Venice and Rome.

Good luck! Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

bratsandbeer

You do need to be careful when buying glass in Murano or Venice as there is a lot that is from China.

bratsandbeer

Gloves aare made according to a size number - for instance 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9 etc. Think it is measured around the palm of your hand in inches.

Even then, gloves made in China don't always seem to measure the same size from glove to glove.

But if you measured around the palm and also the length of the hand you should be able to get a glove that fit.

I loved my gloves from Florence. Amazing how warm they are in winter.

Iowa_Redhead

Thanks for the heads up brats, I never would have thought of checking if items were from China vs Italy. Will items (jewelry, glass items, gloves, etc) be marked as made in Italy or made elsewhere or do I need to ask if I want to be sure?

I would love a set of nicely lined leather gloves for myself, but I wonder how they would hold up. Are leather gloves in general pretty durable? The only leather gloves I've ever had are work gloves for at the barn and those are a completely different story.


Is it polite to bargain on prices in Italy or is it the price marked or that they tell you is the price?

goddesstogo

We bought (for ourselves) a beautiful little ceramic wall clock from a store near the Pantheon in Rome. I can't tell you the name but if you're standing in the square facing the Pantheon, the little street will be on your right and as you walk down it, the store will be on your right hand side. They have beautiful items -- contemporary, not classic.

I brought home leather gloves from Sermonetta as gifts for my sisters and girlfriends. There's a Sermonetta at the bottom of the Spanish Steps in Rome and one in Venice.

From Florence we brought gifts of notepaper and small leather items, chocolates and dried mushrooms from the wonderful food hall there.

For ourselves, we also bought a mask in Venice -- a papier mache one, not plastic.

LouisaH

Ditto to what many others have said here. Just wanted to add that I bought a lot of tea towels last year in Provence and in Rome and they were such a hit. My niece said that hers was so beautiful she wanted to frame it, obviously a bit overboard, but the point is that they're relatively easy to carry and cheap. I also purchased some gorgeous gloves but be sure to know the size as it's impossible to guess. My very slender, tall daughter has a larger glove size than me and I never would have imagined if we hadn't been properly measured.

cmcfong

Louisa, several of my friends framed their tea towels and they look great in the kitchen. I wouldn't have guessed it.

suze

I like small light-weight things that pack easily (no wine, cheese, mushrooms for me!)... a yard of fabric from a fabric store, scarf, cards or stationery, dish towels, guest towels, calendars, tiny pieces of glass art or pottery, earrings.

Then there's the not so easy to pack things that you fall in love with. I toted around this large mixing bowl that I spotted in a hardware store in Venice (white enamel with intricate painted design).

suze

I agree about gloves. They aren't cheap and they need to fit. Something I'd buy for myself, but not as a gift.

kybourbon

>>>mushrooms for me<<<

Dried porcinis are very light weight even if you buy a huge bag.

I like to buy Italian calendars.

Lynnaustin

Be sure to pack a U.S. tape measure to take to the fabric stores.

Iowa_Redhead

Thanks for all of the ideas!

dewdrops

In Venice just down from the train station on the right side there is a store that makes leather masks. I actual have one that is not so much a mask as it is a face. I love mine so much I wish I had bought two. The mask hanging on the wall looks like it is made of wood because of the way it is stained but is leather. Everyone who comes over can't believe it. It is beautiful.

LoveItaly

Hi Iowa_Redhead, Italian friends in Italy have been disgusted these last years as leather items are marked "Made in Italy" BUT the leather is not Italian leather. The items are put together with imported leather from different parts of Asia in what could be called sweat shops mostly as I understand it located in various areas of N Italy. If you want any leather goods and want true Italian leather products I would go to old established reputable Italian firms. And yes, a lot of the glass in Venice is from China. I got caught one time, I purchased a beautiful plate from a shop in Stresa. After I returned home I discovered it was made in China, lol.

Also if you want true Italian olive oil made with nly Italian olives be sure to check the bottle. A lot of olive oils that state "product of Italy" is now made with olives from Greece, Africa, Spain etc., but produced in Italy. I am very fussy about olive oil and for now am only buying Lucini olive oil which consist of only hand picked estate grown 100% Italian olives. Some brands I use to buy suddenly tasted different..it was due to the fact they started using olives from other countries even though the bottle still said "Produced in Italy".

Iowa_Redhead

LoveItaly, thanks for the info. I do have to laugh because I wouldn't know good olive oil from bad!

On a good note, even though the plate you purchased wasn't made in Italy, I'm sure it's still just as beautiful!

Jean

Iowa_Redhead, if you want to buy glass items made on the island of Murano, look for the sticker with the Vetro Artistico Murano logo. Most of what you'll see in Venice (and elsewhere in Italy) is not made on Murano.

http://www.muranoglass.com/

LoveItaly

Hi, Iowa_Redhead, some people are so fussy about their wine, others about some other food product..well I have to admit my one "fault" is that I am over the top fussy about olive oil which I love. IF I know I am buying olive oil say from Spain which is made with olives from Spain that is fine etc., but I don't want to "think" I am buying Italian olive oil to find out after using it and noticing a differance that it is not from 100% Italian olives. It probably sounds silly I know.
Yes the plate was and is lovely however I could have probably bought a plate at Ross or Marshall's here at home for a lot less, lol.

Do think of me when your mother and you are in fabric stores..honestly the fabrics are beyond description beautiful. And Lynnaustin's suggestion about having a tape measure with you is a very good idea. I have a small one that measures four feet..it is small enough to fit in any purse, tote or pocket and is so handy even when shopping here at home.

BOBNYC

Hmmm - what to bring home? Other than Italians, we have broght home beautiful Murano glass scavanged from second hand shops, prints from various exhibits we have enjoyed as well as cheese.

Leather goods from Florence is a must!

willit

Cheese and coffee. Particularly the latter - nothing special, just large packs of ground Lavazza, Segafreddo or whatever is on special at the hypermarket.

A couple of years ago I was in Italy for a month, but returned to the UK for just over a day and a half. My handluggage consisted of passport, ticket and 8 kg of coffee. I did get some strange looks.

Lynnaustin

One item that we always purchase in Venice is a wine stopper with a stainless steel bottom and the top is a small Murano glass ball. They are inexpensive and come in beautiful colors. These are small and easy to pack. They make nice little gifts for work colleagues, neighbors, etc. that you might want to take something back for but not kill your budget.
If you have room in your suitcase pack some bubble wrap. Stores will wrap your items but it is nice to have extra. Another item I take to item is a small mailing tube in case I purchase prints. If I don't then I leave the tube at the hotel front desk for someone else to use.