What I bought in Italy
Jul 21st, 2004 | 02:02 PM
#41
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 166
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We bought 16 wonderful canvases in Lucca that make up one picture. Yes we had to bring back an extra bag.. It was great though .had been looking for THE piece over the mantlepiece..about 3 feetx5 feet,these were about 8X10 inches each,so we had three bundles. I love to look at each picture(very contemporary) and remind me of the trip..and wondering what the artist was thinking about!
Jul 21st, 2004 | 02:42 PM
#42
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 119
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I bought a piece of jewelry in Rome, Venice and Florence. Several watercolors and from artists on the street, several pashminas and pairs of gloves for gifts and 5 pair of shoes!!!!! I was there from April 20 to May 6th. Little did I know that I would be going back in 4 months.
Jul 21st, 2004 | 03:05 PM
#44
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,641
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L'erbolario soaps and shower gels. Not only are the soaps wonderfully fragrant and easy on the skin, the packaging is beautiful. On my next trip to Italy (in October), I plan to buy gift sets for everyone on my Christmas list. For myself, two things: a quilted silk jacket from Frey in Como and a duvet from Zuccero (sp) just off the glass covered galleries in Milan.
Jul 21st, 2004 | 03:45 PM
#46
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 250
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I bought a leather purse in rome (not from the street vendors). Some ceramic plates and a beautiful hand carved wood music box in Sorrento. A mask in Venice. Some Italian cooking spices from Siena and a leather belt in Florence. I still wish I could have brought back more.
Clea
Clea
Jul 21st, 2004 | 05:52 PM
#48
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Hi Robbie
Just returned from Rome, Venice, and Florence. Bought nothing in Rome or Venice. Murano Glass piece in Florence and various Florentine Mosiaic jewelry items. The usual leather stuff, Jackets, gloves, etc also in Florence. Whether you buy in Venice or not -- Dont purchase anything at the Murano glass blowing place. It is roughly twice as expensive as it is in Venice, and even cheaper in Florence. Just my experience.
Just returned from Rome, Venice, and Florence. Bought nothing in Rome or Venice. Murano Glass piece in Florence and various Florentine Mosiaic jewelry items. The usual leather stuff, Jackets, gloves, etc also in Florence. Whether you buy in Venice or not -- Dont purchase anything at the Murano glass blowing place. It is roughly twice as expensive as it is in Venice, and even cheaper in Florence. Just my experience.
Jul 22nd, 2004 | 09:23 AM
#50
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Ssachida,
I bought my shoes in Florence. There is a great shop named SAJA. I think it is on VIa Vacchereccia between the Piazza Signoria and Via Por S. Maria. They carry Via Spiga's that you can not find in America. I also bought shoes on
Via del Condatta.
You will find plenty of shoe shops in Italy in every price range.
I bought my shoes in Florence. There is a great shop named SAJA. I think it is on VIa Vacchereccia between the Piazza Signoria and Via Por S. Maria. They carry Via Spiga's that you can not find in America. I also bought shoes on
Via del Condatta.
You will find plenty of shoe shops in Italy in every price range.
Jul 23rd, 2004 | 12:28 PM
#52
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Last summer:
Tuscany - 1/2 case of wine and 1/2 case of olive oil that we shlepped with us for the rest of our trip! To ship it home would have cost more than we actually paid for it! We only have 2 bottles of the wine left - we'll have to go back and get more!
Siena - watercolor painting of il Campo that sits across from our bed - so nice to wake up every morning to that lovely site.
Florence - beautiful silk scarves and other assorted clothing items.
Venice - murano glass wine glasses (for us), murano glass kiddush cup for my parents (so gorgeous, should have bought one for ourselves), murano glass Christmas ornament for in-laws, clothes, great shoes at Fratelli Rosetti.
I wish i had bought pottery and leather (although in the 2003 heatwave, the last thing i could think of doing was trying on leather) but that's a reason to go back, right?
Tuscany - 1/2 case of wine and 1/2 case of olive oil that we shlepped with us for the rest of our trip! To ship it home would have cost more than we actually paid for it! We only have 2 bottles of the wine left - we'll have to go back and get more!
Siena - watercolor painting of il Campo that sits across from our bed - so nice to wake up every morning to that lovely site.
Florence - beautiful silk scarves and other assorted clothing items.
Venice - murano glass wine glasses (for us), murano glass kiddush cup for my parents (so gorgeous, should have bought one for ourselves), murano glass Christmas ornament for in-laws, clothes, great shoes at Fratelli Rosetti.
I wish i had bought pottery and leather (although in the 2003 heatwave, the last thing i could think of doing was trying on leather) but that's a reason to go back, right?
Jul 24th, 2004 | 05:06 AM
#53
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
I bought a beautiful, unique red purse. I litterly get stopped all the time wit people asking me what designer it is and where I got it.....(I bought it at the flea market in Florence for about 30 euros!!!). I love it! It is a great accent to almost anything I wear. I also bought some beautiful ceremics in Orvieto. I wished I had bought more, but I could not carry them (shipping costs SO MUCH). I also bought a very unique cashmere scarf in Florence - also a conversation piece when I wear it.
We did buy a few small paintings in Venice...I really wish I would have gotten a large one to hang in the family room. I could kick myself for not getting one now. We are headed back to Italy, but not Venice on this trip...I can still picture a gorgeous venice seen painting on my bare family room wall....
We did buy a few small paintings in Venice...I really wish I would have gotten a large one to hang in the family room. I could kick myself for not getting one now. We are headed back to Italy, but not Venice on this trip...I can still picture a gorgeous venice seen painting on my bare family room wall....
Jul 27th, 2004 | 05:05 AM
#55
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
Betty you can get the olive oil at the chelsea market at BUON ITALIA
75 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
phone: 212-633-9090
fax: 212-633-9717
www.buonitalia.com
[email protected]
75 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
phone: 212-633-9090
fax: 212-633-9717
www.buonitalia.com
[email protected]
Jul 27th, 2004 | 09:24 AM
#56
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I know this is a bit of a broad question, but...for those of you who purchased watercolors and paintings, can you give me a general idea of the costs? (I'd really like to budget for one!) Were they easy to find (ie., street vendors? shops?)? How did you get them home??
Jul 27th, 2004 | 09:47 AM
#57
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,473
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Hi c_nez,
Regarding watercolors:
First of all, they are pretty easy to transport. The artist will roll it up and fashion a cardboard tube so you can carry it on the plane. I've bought from several artists by now and they have ALL been conscientious about making sure your artwork will make it home safely. We always buy from street artists, who will hang around the popular tourist spots. Be careful when shopping, as around the Coliseum we saw several vendors trying to pass off copies as originals. Browse around for awhile, talk to the artists, and buy from someone you like. We always end up making a new friend! As far as pricing goes, size makes all the difference. You can get a little 4x6" for about 10E or so (big time generalizing!). This last time we splurged and spent 200E on a LARGE watercolor (probably 3x4'), of which the artist seemed very proud (he says it's the view from his grandmother's house in Venice). You can bargain a little on price, but you don't want to insult them. We have bought multiple pieces from the same artist before, and he gave us a big cut on the price without us even asking. I think it helps to flatter them a little.
Regarding watercolors:
First of all, they are pretty easy to transport. The artist will roll it up and fashion a cardboard tube so you can carry it on the plane. I've bought from several artists by now and they have ALL been conscientious about making sure your artwork will make it home safely. We always buy from street artists, who will hang around the popular tourist spots. Be careful when shopping, as around the Coliseum we saw several vendors trying to pass off copies as originals. Browse around for awhile, talk to the artists, and buy from someone you like. We always end up making a new friend! As far as pricing goes, size makes all the difference. You can get a little 4x6" for about 10E or so (big time generalizing!). This last time we splurged and spent 200E on a LARGE watercolor (probably 3x4'), of which the artist seemed very proud (he says it's the view from his grandmother's house in Venice). You can bargain a little on price, but you don't want to insult them. We have bought multiple pieces from the same artist before, and he gave us a big cut on the price without us even asking. I think it helps to flatter them a little.
Jul 27th, 2004 | 08:15 PM
#59
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
Joelleinitaly04--First, I soooo agree with you that it means so much more to have acquired your beautiful object on your fabulous trip. My daughter was 19 the first time we went and she bought a wonderful pitcher and glasses set for her 'hope chest'.on the island of Murano She will always be able to say where she got it. My husband and I both regret not buying a wonderful piece of art glass there.
My daughter and I bought wonderful leather coats in Florence (my husband regrets he did not). Maybe I could have gotten a better price here (though where I live we don't have much of that), but I love saying, 'I got it in Italy' when someone compliments it.
Also, the necklace you bought in Venice sounds exactly like one I just inherited two weeks ago when my mother died. I know I love mine. Get that chain!!
My daughter and I bought wonderful leather coats in Florence (my husband regrets he did not). Maybe I could have gotten a better price here (though where I live we don't have much of that), but I love saying, 'I got it in Italy' when someone compliments it.
Also, the necklace you bought in Venice sounds exactly like one I just inherited two weeks ago when my mother died. I know I love mine. Get that chain!!
