18 K Gold jewelry in any shape, color or form. White gold has been and continues to be the rage. Cameos are also worth consideration. If you happen upon one of those weekly village street markets, check out the shoes, purses and sweaters for extraordinary bargains. If you wear glasses, take along your prescription for a new pair set in the very latest fashion frames: most optical shops provide 24 hour service. Italian baby and children's clothes are the best. Whether there's a wedding or baptism in your future, it's fun to check out the glorious wedding gowns and christening outfits. And finally, listen to joegri and never pass up the opportunity to buy dried porcini and if you're lucky enough to find some, bring back some farmer's market bought sundried tomato.

LIMONCELLO !!

Olive oil from Tuscany- The best olive oil you'll find! Hand painted ceramics from Florence and Orvieto.

aneckc:
Tuscany oklive oil is not the best. The best olive oil of Italy is produced on the Garda Lake, a very small production of lolives that produce a very small amount of oil with an incredible taste. It is ONLY fit for salads, though: it is too delicate to withstand heating.

I was so glad we brought back small jars of pest, Black olive, green olive and mushroom. It keeps for a very long time in the fridge. We got those in Assisi. I do regret not buying more alabaster in Tuscany, especially around San G. I did purchase a small vase but they had some other stunning pieces. It's not cheap though.

That should read, small jars of pesto!

First - shoes in Rome, everyone bought a pair and we love them. My son, who a year later is still trying to shove his growing feet into them, gets so many complements on his shoes. I bought a pair of burgandy patent leather, my Dorothy shoes - love them.
We bought 2 cases of wine from a vineyard in Sienna.
We bought glass in Venice and actually when we received it via mail one piece was broken - no problems - it was actually part of a pair of candlesticks and they replaced both so they would match! They never sent anyone to look at the broken one either. When we were in venice I bought these little glass candies - really colorful. They made great gifts because they were only about 1 euro each - so everyone got a small collection.

Great ideas! Are special boxes or crates available for shipping glass bottles? Every winery in California has styrofoam containers that you can fill up & then check as baggage...something like that?

Another vote for leather and ceramics! I thought I collected the most beautiful ceramic pieces over a few years from Deruta, Assisi, Gualdo Tadino and Gubbio. So this year, I went to buy shoes and a leather coat - and I did - 3 pairs of shoes and a leather coat in Firenze.

But then I visited Orvieto for the first time - and I just could not resist the ceramics - so totally different - and so beautiful!

The winery packed the wine in wooden crates then packing material in a larger box. Arrived in perfect condition. By the way the Vineyard was DIEVOLE Sienna if you get a chance stop by they were so friendly and the tour excellent - that is if you can stay sober throughout!

Thanks, Sharonkaye. I just posted a question specifically about wineries. The advice on this forum is the best!

I would say buy whatever you are really drawn to (even if you think it's a little more than you should spend). While in Venice, a couple of months ago, I had glass and masks on my list to buy for myself amd for gifts. At the end of our last day, I saw a beautiful little painting in the entryway of a little shop (framed, no more than about 8x10). However, I felt that I had worn my Mom out with all of my shopping/walking and I felt like I had already spent too much money, so I walked away without even asking the price. It was our last afternoon and I had no way of going back before we left early the next morning. At this point, I may have made it even more beautiful in my memory, but I don't think so. The point that I'm taking so long to make is that if you really like something and you can't get it at home, buy it (as long as it doesn't put you in financial ruin, of course I will never make that mistake again while traveling!!!

Otherwise, I wish I had gotten more glass jewelry. I purchased a glass pendant for a necklace that was less than 10 euros. I get at least two or three compliments every time that I wear it. I wish I had gotten a couple different ones.

However, by far, the most wonderful thing that I brought back from Italy are my photos. I debated whether or not to bring my larger, digital camera vs a smaller/less expensive one. In the end, due to some good advice I got on this site, I went with the bigger one (and figured I would beat someone with it if they tried to take it). Just kidding, not really. I ended up with some fantastic pictures and today I gave my Mom a hardbound photo book, that I made online with Shutterfly, of our adventure in Italy. It is 100 pages of photos and captions. I have to say that it turned out amazing and I am not a technical person at all. It was probably the best gift I have ever given (and I made one for myself). So, bring the best digital camera that you can, don't let the fear of theft get in your way and take a lot of great pictures to enjoy when you get home.
Have a wonderful time!

I bought a pair of sandals in Florence (near the Lorenzo market)and they are ever softer than when I bought them.
The soles are like new.
I have worn them for 2 summers so far. They cost 30 euro in 2003.

Tablecloth -- I purchased an inexpensive one with the traditional colors of blue and yellow at a flea market in Trapani. I love seeing it on my dining room table with fresh flowers.

Music cd -- I like to have some traditional/contemporary music performed by artists from that particular country. Nice to pop into the player and be transported back to a memory I may have associated with the song or trip.

What to buy in Tuscany:

http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=207

You can get olive oil and wine in the US, but the quality of Olive Oil in Tuscany is out of this world! An amazing difference. We got some at DIEVOLE which another poster mentioned. Awesome place!!! And, the Brunello di Montalcino is WAY CHEAPER in Italy than the US!!!!

If you love porcini, along with buying the dried mushrooms (very light weight), get Star brand porcini boullion cubes in any of the fairly large supermarkets (Standa in Rome). They are great (1.24 euro for a pkg of 10). Never found them anywhere else except in Rome and Venice. Make a great rissoto with those! Also, only in Italy, we found Knorr cream of porcini soup mix. As you can tell, I am a porcini freak!

This is a very interesting thread. Thanks, Lina, for starting it.

I would like a little more information about shipping things home?

Do the merchants generally ship? Is is prohibitively expensive? Did your things arrive intact?

Thanks for your help.

bookmarking

all good stuff the other posters have suggested! but the best gift i brought back was a bottle opener i bought outside of the Vatican with a picture of the pope on it - the "Popener" i chuckle everytime i use it, and always remember what a great time i had there.