Gift Ideas from Rome & Venice
Nov 10th, 2007, 09:01 AM
#42
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Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this! Great ideas.
Which brings up another question that aliced prompted.
"bargaining might get you the one-of-a-kind gift you want"
Where do you start with your bargaining? In Hong Kong, we would start sometimes below 50% and feigned disinterest when they didn't accept. Walking away usually prompted a quick, "okay, okay" by the vendor. What's been your strategy in Italy?
Which brings up another question that aliced prompted.
"bargaining might get you the one-of-a-kind gift you want"
Where do you start with your bargaining? In Hong Kong, we would start sometimes below 50% and feigned disinterest when they didn't accept. Walking away usually prompted a quick, "okay, okay" by the vendor. What's been your strategy in Italy?
Nov 10th, 2007, 08:44 PM
#43
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I'm sure there are a hundred and one strategies.
If bargaining is encouraged in the setting you find yourself (not retail, generally), some indecision might encourage the vendor to solicit an offer. If you don't intend to buy it at that price, say apologetically,
"Lo siento, ma e troppo caro per me."
(I hope that means "I'm sorry, but it's too expensive for me." I'm rusty.) Of course all of it depends on how good you are at this sort of thing.
But I don't try to bargain unless it has a bearing on my purchase ... if I know everyone else is getting the 3E a kilo cherries for 2E, I'm going to hold out. If they're worth it, I'd probably pay, but say no-no-no to the price on the pears.
On the other hand, I know a woman who will bargain herself out of every opportunity that comes along: she ALWAYS thinks there's room for improvement, no matter how good the deal!
If bargaining is encouraged in the setting you find yourself (not retail, generally), some indecision might encourage the vendor to solicit an offer. If you don't intend to buy it at that price, say apologetically,
"Lo siento, ma e troppo caro per me."
(I hope that means "I'm sorry, but it's too expensive for me." I'm rusty.) Of course all of it depends on how good you are at this sort of thing.
But I don't try to bargain unless it has a bearing on my purchase ... if I know everyone else is getting the 3E a kilo cherries for 2E, I'm going to hold out. If they're worth it, I'd probably pay, but say no-no-no to the price on the pears.
On the other hand, I know a woman who will bargain herself out of every opportunity that comes along: she ALWAYS thinks there's room for improvement, no matter how good the deal!
Nov 10th, 2007, 09:01 PM
#44
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In Venice, they were selling those awful "David" boxer briefs, in all sizes and I don't mean S-M-L. Someone had done some photoshop on poor David. Kids love them because they are shocking and tacky. About 6 euros.
My Father enjoyed fancy bottles of olive oil with lime or orange extracts. They included a small booklet about the family who produced the product, and their family owned farm. About 10 euros.
My Father enjoyed fancy bottles of olive oil with lime or orange extracts. They included a small booklet about the family who produced the product, and their family owned farm. About 10 euros.
Nov 10th, 2007, 09:47 PM
#45
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I wish I'd purchased more of the beautiful glass jewelry in Venice. It's in many of the shops, but the best prices are on the back streets away from San Marco. The prices are really good-- for a necklace and matching earrings, for example, about 25EUR. Easy to pack and travel with. Great gifts, I think.
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Nov 10th, 2007, 10:22 PM
#46
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Tomas: Sorry, but "I'm sorry" in italiano is rendered as "sono spiacente" (formal) or "mi dispiace" (less formal) "lo siento" is Spanish, not Italian.
Rome has a number of artisan shops that specialize in objects made of marble. In the maze of shopping streets clustered down at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, on the Via Margutta, there is a small shop called "LA BOTTEGA DEL MARMORARO' - they don't take credit cards, and it is a hole in the wall-type shop, set in the midst of far more elegant shopping. Here, there is a whole range of marble products, from tablets with Roman inscriptions, to Roman busts, large and small, vases-that run the gamut in price from about 10-12 Euros to however many thousands you want to pay. A particularly good and inexpensive gift is a small marble bust of a Roman emperor, or marble bookends-this type of gift is what you can find here at this shop.
As for Venice, there are true glass artisans here, and we're not talking "made in China" glass artisans either-both in the historic center of Venice as well as on the island of Murano; just browse the shops around San Polo particularly, and you'll find some lovely and inexpensive one of a kind gifts, either jewelry, or objets d'artes. One shop in Castello, vaporetto: San Zaccaria, Campo San Provolo, you might want to stop into is ANTICLEA ANTIQUARIATO-they specialize in antique glass beads-and have some beautiful creations.
Rome has a number of artisan shops that specialize in objects made of marble. In the maze of shopping streets clustered down at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, on the Via Margutta, there is a small shop called "LA BOTTEGA DEL MARMORARO' - they don't take credit cards, and it is a hole in the wall-type shop, set in the midst of far more elegant shopping. Here, there is a whole range of marble products, from tablets with Roman inscriptions, to Roman busts, large and small, vases-that run the gamut in price from about 10-12 Euros to however many thousands you want to pay. A particularly good and inexpensive gift is a small marble bust of a Roman emperor, or marble bookends-this type of gift is what you can find here at this shop.
As for Venice, there are true glass artisans here, and we're not talking "made in China" glass artisans either-both in the historic center of Venice as well as on the island of Murano; just browse the shops around San Polo particularly, and you'll find some lovely and inexpensive one of a kind gifts, either jewelry, or objets d'artes. One shop in Castello, vaporetto: San Zaccaria, Campo San Provolo, you might want to stop into is ANTICLEA ANTIQUARIATO-they specialize in antique glass beads-and have some beautiful creations.
Nov 11th, 2007, 06:20 AM
#47
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MI dispiace, Girlspytravel (and Dante) - When I first started to learn some Italian I had to fight the instinct to slip in Spanish vocabulary or phrases. In fact I get to use Italian so rarely that it's still a problem - especially after midnight and a couple of beers. 
Nov 11th, 2007, 09:12 AM
#48
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tomassocroccante- thank you for your continued advice and I agree, bargaining depends upon location. I generally only bargain with street vendors.
Virgogirl- we'll keep an eye out for the boxers. Photoshopped no less, huh? Like the olive oil idea as well.
MaureenB- I'll definitely check out the glass jewelry.
Girlspytravel- thank you for the clarification and translation and for the specific location(s) of the shops in Rome and Venice. Very helpful and I'll make certain to try and find them.
P
Virgogirl- we'll keep an eye out for the boxers. Photoshopped no less, huh? Like the olive oil idea as well.
MaureenB- I'll definitely check out the glass jewelry.
Girlspytravel- thank you for the clarification and translation and for the specific location(s) of the shops in Rome and Venice. Very helpful and I'll make certain to try and find them.
P
Nov 11th, 2007, 09:44 AM
#49
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And here is yet another Roman store that has some good gifts in marble and alabaster:
http://www.marmiline.com/eng/storia.html
I have quite a bit of shopping info in the report I wrote after my most recent trip to Rome, about 10 months ago...I will top the report for you. It is VERY long and has lots of food information as well...probably too much, in fact, for the average reader!
http://www.marmiline.com/eng/storia.html
I have quite a bit of shopping info in the report I wrote after my most recent trip to Rome, about 10 months ago...I will top the report for you. It is VERY long and has lots of food information as well...probably too much, in fact, for the average reader!
Nov 11th, 2007, 10:07 AM
#50
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Hven't much to add to this, but thought of a couple things...I usually buy food. Olive oil, tubed tomato pastes and other products such a dried mushrooms are excellent buys there. There are beautiful stationery stores in Italy. I remember one in Venice with papers to die for. I bought small Murano glass candies and soap dishes. All easy to transport home.
Nov 11th, 2007, 10:15 AM
#51
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re: <<pistashio paste>>
cigalechanta, what is that like? Sweet or savory? Does it come in a tube or jar or what? Peanutbuttery? I LOVE pistachio; wish I had known about that. Well, next time.
cigalechanta, what is that like? Sweet or savory? Does it come in a tube or jar or what? Peanutbuttery? I LOVE pistachio; wish I had known about that. Well, next time.
Nov 11th, 2007, 10:34 AM
#52
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I bought (for myself) two linen hand towels that are embroidered on one end with pale blue forget-me-nots and pale green leaves. They were €5 each and are very pretty. I got them in Venice at a small shop on the short side of St. Mark's Square, opposite the cathedral.
Also bought in a glass factory the small, multicolored, round glass pendants. They were a big hit.
Also bought in a glass factory the small, multicolored, round glass pendants. They were a big hit.
Nov 11th, 2007, 11:02 AM
#53
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Pistachio paste as I know it is sweet; usually mixed with sugar and used in pastry and desserts.
You can make savory pesto with pistachio, to serve with cut pasta, by using the nuts. Here is one recipe:
http://www.recipezaar.com/256504
You can make savory pesto with pistachio, to serve with cut pasta, by using the nuts. Here is one recipe:
http://www.recipezaar.com/256504
Jun 17th, 2008, 07:33 AM
#54
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We were in Rome Spring 2007; the prices had jumped significantly from 2000; I love the shop Il Papiro, both in Rome and in Venice, for the gorgeous marbleized paper frames, paperware and tiny boxes, books; Santa Maria Novella is always a treat to receive but nothing close to $25 in there. Scarfs always good, and small leathers in Rome, found great handbag shop on Via Condotti with leather roses on stems w/ keyring at $10, and tiny watercolors or prints travel well; bookstores are good sources; I like to only buy locally made goods, and avoid the tourist stores near the big sights. But then I love to shop!
Jun 20th, 2008, 05:10 AM
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Yes, scarves are great gifts but - after they get home they begin to look like scarves I could have bought here. I often go to the little markets and buy packets of dried cooking herbs and spices, porcini mushrooms, there are freeze dried packets of different kinds of risottos that are really good. I'm looking at a package of "pomodori Secchi" dried tomatoes that i brough back last year and a package of "erbe disidrantate per ROSOTTO" it all kinds of dehydrated things mixed together (carrots, onions,tomatoes, etc. to use for making risotto. These are not elegant gifts but they are always appreciated, FUN, easy to pack and, not costly.
