Gift Ideas from Rome & Venice
Nov 7th, 2007, 03:48 AM
#21
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Adventureseeker- very cool! I'm excited about checking all of them out. I love "off the beaten path"!
I checked out the slowtrav link as well. You are my new best friend. ha!
Thanks again!
I checked out the slowtrav link as well. You are my new best friend. ha!
Thanks again!
Nov 7th, 2007, 07:51 AM
#22
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In Venice, go to Il Papiro (at least two locations) for beautiful paper products. Prices vary: some items are very expensive -- but not all. I bought several lovely illustrated 2008 calendars for 8.5 Euros; even the bookmarks (about 1.5 Euros) are nice little gifts.
In Venice and Rome, for a funny gift, go to any news kiosk and check out the Handsome Priests calendar. I got one for my mother and my sister. (Nothing like a good-looking guy in a Roman collar.)
In Venice and Rome, for a funny gift, go to any news kiosk and check out the Handsome Priests calendar. I got one for my mother and my sister. (Nothing like a good-looking guy in a Roman collar.)
Nov 7th, 2007, 08:55 AM
#23
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In venice you can get nice smaller Murano glassware - soap dishes, etc. They make great gifts. I think it is actually a bit less expensive to buy in Venice proper, rather than on the island of Murano.
Nov 7th, 2007, 12:56 PM
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Hang on a minute -- Kagoo, are you serious? Is there really such a thing as "the Handsome Priests" calendar??
I've bought many newspapers at Roman news kiosks but I've never noticed such an item. It sounds hilarious.
Where did you happen to buy yours? I don't imagine this is a Vatican-sanctioned item! I'll have to check this out.
I've bought many newspapers at Roman news kiosks but I've never noticed such an item. It sounds hilarious.
Where did you happen to buy yours? I don't imagine this is a Vatican-sanctioned item! I'll have to check this out.
Nov 7th, 2007, 04:15 PM
#26
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There really is sacc! I think some Fodorite even posted the website.. don't know if you can locate it by the Search feature here on Fodor's. Or perhaps someone will be able to pull it up. It is enough to make one seriously consider going to mass weekly, lol.
Nov 7th, 2007, 05:16 PM
#27
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I bought one of those handsome priests calendars for a friend. I only saw the inside when he opened it--I swear that one of the priests (Fr. Ocotober?) was our waiter at one of my favorite Rome restaurants. So whether they are really priests is debatable. In any case, you get a calendar featuring 12 handsome men dressed as priests.
Nov 7th, 2007, 08:36 PM
#28
We were eating lunch at a place on a small street near the Vatican when a young nun in full traditional habit walked by. She looked like a model, and her habit looked couture. It fit perfectly, and the fabric draped beautifully. Her shoes were not high-fashion but also definitely not vow-of-poverty quality. She carried a black briefcase that likewise looked very expensive.
Maybe she was headed to a "Beautiful Nuns Calendar" photo shoot.
Maybe she was headed to a "Beautiful Nuns Calendar" photo shoot.
Nov 7th, 2007, 11:11 PM
#30
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I like to buy (and receive) something the person will like and possibly use.
For card players, look for special decks.
For cooks, definitely go into a kitchen store or nice home store - great to see cool Italian design.
Lots of beautiful paper products available - but ask whether it's going to end up in a drawer or actuallyused!
Just stepping into a boutique while in Rome will yield interesting things. For not a lot I bought a great hand knit scarf, and though it doesn't say "Rome", I do when someone asks where I got it.
For card players, look for special decks.
For cooks, definitely go into a kitchen store or nice home store - great to see cool Italian design.
Lots of beautiful paper products available - but ask whether it's going to end up in a drawer or actuallyused!
Just stepping into a boutique while in Rome will yield interesting things. For not a lot I bought a great hand knit scarf, and though it doesn't say "Rome", I do when someone asks where I got it.
Nov 8th, 2007, 03:19 AM
#31
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I agree with Tomas..just keep your eyes open, and not focused only on the traditional gift-type shops. A note on the paper goods: i cannot even count how many of those Florentine-wrapped pencils and blank books I have in my drawers at hone..they seemed great at the time and they are undoubtedly beautiful. But will the recipient really USE them? Nowadays I browse the shelves of art supply shops located in areas near schools...for example along via di Ripetta close to Pza del Popolo and also a large one on Via della Croce (I think it is this street, or a parallel one in the Trident area). There are all kinds of cool notebooks and agendas and desk items that are not as emblematic as the Florentine paper but they are also less costly.
Il Papiro (mentioned bove) is a chain of paper shops based, I think, in Florence. They are at the high end of the price scale for Florentine paper goods. You can find them at many other shops (I know the name of one only in Florence, where I have bought leather-bound albums for wedding gifts..) And please, think twice before you buy the wax sticks and a metal stamper with your friend's initials...that, too, seemed like a great idea at the time (to seal envelopes) but it is gathering dust someplace in my drawers. Now maybe if your friend has the same initials as I do, we can do a swap!
If you want to splurge for fabulous writing paper, I would recommend Pineider, located in all major Italian cities.
Il Papiro (mentioned bove) is a chain of paper shops based, I think, in Florence. They are at the high end of the price scale for Florentine paper goods. You can find them at many other shops (I know the name of one only in Florence, where I have bought leather-bound albums for wedding gifts..) And please, think twice before you buy the wax sticks and a metal stamper with your friend's initials...that, too, seemed like a great idea at the time (to seal envelopes) but it is gathering dust someplace in my drawers. Now maybe if your friend has the same initials as I do, we can do a swap!
If you want to splurge for fabulous writing paper, I would recommend Pineider, located in all major Italian cities.
Nov 8th, 2007, 03:28 AM
#32
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In Rome, in Piazza di Spagana, a great shop for leather gloves.
An amazing array of colors, for 29€. A little more than you want to spend, but they make a great gift.
Very easy to find.
http://www.dicorigloves.com_
An amazing array of colors, for 29€. A little more than you want to spend, but they make a great gift.
Very easy to find.
http://www.dicorigloves.com_
Nov 8th, 2007, 04:27 AM
#34
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kagoo- love the Handsome Priests calendar idea. That and a lollipope and a couple of my friends are good to go.
scdreamer- I'll check them out. Thanks for your insight.
LoveItaly- "It is enough to make one seriously consider going to mass weekly, lol." ;o)
Jean- ha! I'm guessing if the police can wear Armani uniforms that couture nuns' habits are not out of the question? It's enough to give you habit envy, huh?
Ralstonlan- pretty gloves, ah-h-h.
tomassocroccante & ekscrunchy- As an avowed "collector" of paper products, pens and pencils; I can see them in a drawer already. I'll still HAVE to check them out. Thanks for all.
scdreamer- I'll check them out. Thanks for your insight.
LoveItaly- "It is enough to make one seriously consider going to mass weekly, lol." ;o)
Jean- ha! I'm guessing if the police can wear Armani uniforms that couture nuns' habits are not out of the question? It's enough to give you habit envy, huh?
Ralstonlan- pretty gloves, ah-h-h.
tomassocroccante & ekscrunchy- As an avowed "collector" of paper products, pens and pencils; I can see them in a drawer already. I'll still HAVE to check them out. Thanks for all.
Nov 8th, 2007, 05:16 AM
#35
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I just remembered: The paper goods shop I referred to above is Vertecchi. Via della Croce, 70. Plan to spend a while! They also sell nice prints of the city along with the beautiful papers, agendas, notebooks, etc etc.
Here is the priest calendar:
http://www.calendarioromano.org/03.html
Here is the priest calendar:
http://www.calendarioromano.org/03.html
Nov 8th, 2007, 05:39 AM
#36
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Under $25 is tough in Italy these days; I absolutely love the marbelized paperware which I bought lots of in 2000; the prices this past March were much higher, BUT they are unbreakable, lightweight; pencils, pads, small frames, small boxes -- check out Il Papiro throughout Rome & Venice. Venetian glass (ornaments), silks, and small leathers are always a treat. Small watercolor postcard-size prints are available in book stores, bought several of those. Piazza Navonna and other main plazas throughout Rome has artists selling originals-- some bad, some very good, bargaining might get you the one-of-a-kind gift you want (even for yourself)-- Enjoy! Also, The prices for Farmacia S. M. N. are better in NYC than Rome unfortunately and considering the weight, passed on that shop. But those are wonderful.
Nov 8th, 2007, 07:04 AM
#37
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we saw several (but forgot to buy in the end) great 2008 calendars with portrait photos of hot young priests from Rome!!
I think the stalls were selling them for 8 Euro.
I would've really liked one, dammit
I think the stalls were selling them for 8 Euro.
I would've really liked one, dammit
Nov 8th, 2007, 08:22 AM
#38
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Don't know if anyone has mentioned the vendors at the top of the Spanish Steps. Bought a couple of lovely watercolor prints of the Colosseum and Piazza di Spagna from one - very reasonable. Besides beautiful picture frames and stationery, I purchased marbleized bookmarks from Il Papiro in Florence(also have a store in Rome) that were very inexpensive and would make good stocking stuffers for those who like to read.
Nov 8th, 2007, 08:51 AM
#39
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A favorite item I brought home from Roma were pads found at the shops of the Campidoglio museum: in three sizes, these notepads were decorated only with images of the three orders of column capitals - likely taken from old engravings or drawings, and each was split in half, each half lodged in opposite lower corners. A great look and emblematic without being cliched. Not fine paper, just nice note pads. I bought one of each, but wished I had brought home 4 or 5 of each for gifts. Inexpensive and useful without being precious - and they say ROME in a simple way.
I love that kind of thing. A good rule of thumb for keeping your baggage and your friends' lives uncluttered: don't buy it abroad if you would never buy it at home!
By the way, shopping at the airport is not a crime if you forgot someone: I've found interesting books and other good stuff to spend my last Euros on. And if you have a friend into fashion, pick up the latest Italian magazine - what would cost you $15 at home will be 6 or 7 there, and who cares if it's in Italian? You buy it for the pictures.
I love that kind of thing. A good rule of thumb for keeping your baggage and your friends' lives uncluttered: don't buy it abroad if you would never buy it at home!
By the way, shopping at the airport is not a crime if you forgot someone: I've found interesting books and other good stuff to spend my last Euros on. And if you have a friend into fashion, pick up the latest Italian magazine - what would cost you $15 at home will be 6 or 7 there, and who cares if it's in Italian? You buy it for the pictures.
Nov 8th, 2007, 11:18 AM
#40
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Great ideas here, and the calendar is going on the top of my shopping list. thanks for the info and the link! It's sad, but I really do have to write myself a shopping list before I go to Italy; otherwise, I forget things I want to pick up for myself (like cool cases for eyeglasses and great leather gloves) along with gifts for upcoming birthdays, etc.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
