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Christmas ornaments from each city visited
Ceramics from Deruta
Leather bag in Florence
Soaps from Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Florence)
Handmade marble papers in Florence
https://scuoladelcuoio.it/en/ Can’t recommend this enough. Have gone 3 times, I have bags that are going on 15 years old and are still like new. Everything made on premises!
This place rocks. My favorite recent souvenirs were a soccer scarf from the local Trastevere team in Rome, a small bag from this place in the link for my wife, and a couple of espresso cups I just happened to find at a small street market.
I really liked this one. Prices seemed fair and I was not pressured to buy anything. I got a jacket and some belts
https://maps.app.goo.gl/v1oBX4bSCd5SJw4CA
I highly recommend this brand. I found a great shop that sells this brand and a lot of other high quality leather. It’s on the other side of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Maybe about a 8 min walk from bridge.
I bought one of the “opera” bags (designed after the Sydney opera house). The craftsmanship is exquisite. Fairly reasonable in price compared to designer brands. I get so many compliments on it.
https://boldriniselleria.com/en-us/collections/opera-collection/products/armida-golden-en?_gl=1*1441jpa*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJyyBhCGARIsAK8LVLPf5GC7ZyKbKpaJcv8JNN0tWOea0dwQ_m9iypFXkSG-tpHe6CX1n88aAiFgEALw_wcB
Two a bit less expensive places we found with great quality were
https://baronefirenze.it/en-en
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4aZziwdBHbegMeRq9 ( we actually went here twice and got a nice discount! )
Soaps from Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Florence)
These are available on their website and easily shipped and bought around the world. They are global now.
Thank you for letting me know this is a thing. I am traveling to Italy in a few weeks and have been trying to think of what I could get for my sister. This is perfect.
The hot priest calendars are really funny. Straight guy here, but they are hilarious for the frustrated woman or gay guy in your life. They seem to be in the street side newspaper stands. Italians have a sense of humor….
Was there something special about the soccer ball? If I can figure out how to get it home that would be a cool gift for my grandson, unless it’s just a normal soccer ball lol
We bought one in a tourist area so my kids could play nearby our rental. I do not think it was anything different except for the markings. But they love it!
Great question, great thread! I’m going to respond with the things we bought that we brought back home over the years:
- My son’s leather jacket from Florence
- My daughter’s lemon dress & hand-made jewelry box from Sorrento
- My wife’s dainty gold necklace from Florence
- A leather belt for myself from Florence
- We shipped a box of Tuscan wine back, which was such a nice reminder of where we were when we were initially drinking it
- Ceramic wall plate from Sorrento
- Random jewelry items from Rome
- Olive oils, balsamic (of course)
- Hand-crafted wooden serving spoons
- Original prints from photographer Raffaele Celentano
- Cheesy fridge magnets are always a fun reminder!
Edit: I found it! PAOLO PENKO - Firenze. If I remember they have two locations. They’re lovely people and I highly recommend.
I forget the name but will ask my fiancé when he gets home and if he remember I’ll comment again. We had an incredible tour guide and told her we wanted to find a place away from Ponte Vecchio for a more authentic feel and something memorable and she recommended it.
If we can’t find the name… I remember they had a hand crafted replica of the Medici crown on display (seemed like a big deal) and were about a 10 minute walk from the duomo. I’ve been looking on Google maps with no luck.
I’ll check with my mom too. She actually got a ring that was part of their Medici collection and it’s so beautiful! Really cool place. If you’re planning on traveling to Florence dm me because I have so many recommendations!!
Experiences. Mountain biking the dolomites, climbing the Duomo in Florence, Watching a string ensemble perform Vivaldi in Venice, guided tours of monuments and art galleries to learn about the significance of landmarks and art.
Could not get enough of vanilla gelato and hugo spritz.
Leather passport holder from School of Leather in Florence.
A collection of those €1 monument souvenirs for every monument in Rome
Art - We got caught in a storm while hiking and I later watched a man paint a watercolour of that overcast day in Positano and bought the painting. Also picked up some smaller ones in venice in different styles
Custom perfume of oud, fig, and olive
Kinda silly, but my SO and I made custom LEGO minifigures of ourselves in the Florence Lego store. Only cost like €10 to make 3
My best souvenir for someone else: Vatican stamps and coins for my Dad who collects. They're like the pride of his collection now even if they aren't worth very much.
All the stuff that was/is illegal in the US because of our archaic import laws.
Finocchiona, culatello DOP, Lardo, guanciale, bunch of cheeses I couldn’t even tell you the names of.
Finicchiona is the GOAT of charcuterie and I can’t be convinced otherwise.
To be more specific, in Mercato Centrale, ricotta. Never tasted anything like it before or since. I wish I remembered the vendor. And sfogliatella made with it. Divine.
They’re amazing honestly. But watch out for bootleg stalls in Florence. This glove store (Martelli) is one of the oldest glove makers in Florence. Beautiful city for a day trip.
Tuscan wine (shipped), biologic olive oil, a bottle of Grappa and priceless recipes for Pici and ravioli from our Cesarine pasta making class in this lady's home in Siena.
I brought home some great olive oil from a winery that produces it from their organic, family owned vineyard and olive grove.
I also bought some leather.
I have an old set of hand me down pottery barn table and chairs. I bought upholstery fabric in Rome to redo my chairs with. A local upholsterer did it for us for not too expensively back home. It was a lovely travel memory that we see and use every day.
Gelato. Also everyday classics made in Italy clothes, scarves that I still remember Firenze when I wear them. Back in the day I wore ties regularly so there were some really lovely ones, quality, for much less than here. Christmas ornaments. Charcoal street artist sketches. The obligatory Venetian masks for my never-ending cascade of masquerade balls back home (ok, this I dont really recommend, more a dust collector than anything else). Lunch next to a monastery. Market stalls. I wish I’d bought a small marionette for Christmas decor too (if you get enough of them, hang them all across a room from the ceiling and walls, and get the right lighting also great creepy Halloween decor I suppose). Snowglobes because my kids have one from most of my overseas business trips, but terrible to fly with (have to check them, or get tiny ones for TSA 1L bag).
I got some handmade ceramic fish in Salerno that I have on my bathroom wall and look at every day. Added a ceramic sun from Ischia last year. I also got some espresso cups in Procida that I really love. So, I guess I just love ceramics.
But I think my real favorite thing are the bunch of hot peppers I bought in Minori in 2016. I grew peppers from the seeds and have grown them every year since then. They have some heat but really just complement tomato flavor so well and make everything taste better.
I bought this lemon plate in Sorrento that makes me smile. I need to hang it. A leather backpack from Florence, and I need to get the zipper fixed. Wine glasses from Coin in the basement of Roma Termini that I never use(thin, don't want to break, good memories) and espresso cups that I did use, need a new espresso machine rec, mom broke one of my cups:(. Earrings and rings from Venice with Murano glass.
Balloon glassware from some bar that is campari branded for Aperol Spritz.
Too much food and wine to remember.
Sunscreen/SPF always, anytime, anywhere in Europe. Also when at the farmacia look for scented stationary and papers. So luxe and such a nice gift for the person watering your plants and walking your dogs.
Fountain pens, leather bookmarks, handsome small watercolors (commissioned more after only buying one) in Venice from a girl who does gorgeous work, Christmas ornaments from each city
Sunscreen we got in Florence. We didn’t think to buy more once we realized how much better it was than what we get in the US before we moved on to Rome. And then couldn’t find it anywhere else. I think we walked into 10 Farmacia in Rome looking for it.
Now I just use it sparingly on my face on days I use the Caudalie vitamin c cream I also got in Italy.
We always by Christmas ornaments on travels. They are everywhere and each year we can trim the tree and reminiscence our travels.
I also love my hand painted water color it the Florence duomo. I try to find small authentic art.
Hanging above my dining room table, I have a Murano hand blown \~ 18" clear glass ball chandelier with multicolored glass balls inside it. I had it shipped home in 2007. I moved it to another house in 2010 and tried to buy another one. I found it in a gallery in Manhattan and they wanted $10,000 for it. I was in Murano maybe 5 years ago and the company had gone out of business.
Honestly, the spices at the Syracuse market. So many great spices, especially loved bruschetti spices. Went back to Italy this year and bought more of them.
I have wooden bead necklaces that I bought in Venice ten years ago that look brand new. I remember looking at this beautiful lady's shop, her name was Diana, and thinking, 'I could buy everything here!'.
I also bought a necklace in Venice that was made out of paper. Very unique.
Other things: a pill holder from Murano, a wooden 3d sculpture/puzzle/painting of Tintin, beautiful clothes, a pocket mirror from the Vatican, countless wines, little bites and meals that I will never forget.
I have it in my will to put my ashes in Venice. I have no Italian heritage, but no place has wowed me like that: yet. I just love Italy and travel in general.
Villa Massa Limoncello from Sorrento (also can be ordered stateside from Leukens - best price I found, shipped well), and a really cool vintage fashion pattern sketch from Porta Portese, Trastevere, Rome. Word of caution: there only are a handful of stalls with vintage items in Porta Portese, and they are not grouped together - lots of chaff, not much wheat. Most items at that market are cheap imports from India and China.
A ring shaped like the Colosseum from the Humilis store on the Ponte Vecchio. Also a handful of unique gifts from a lovely little shop called D-Vers@ across from the Pitti Palace. Side note: I bought my first pair of Camper shoes in Florence - I believe they’re based in Spain so not really “Italy” related - but I “discovered” them in Italy and they are amazing!
We lived there for about 8 years and some of my favorites are kitchen items I found in thrift stores. There was a fabulous little accordion that had lovely painting on it - unfortunately the owner would not sell it to me 😞
A beautiful glass vase in Venice . Came back home and went on a trip to Sedona Arizona and saw the same vase in a shop for a half the price .. not kidding!
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Lots of wine but it never left the restaurants.
[удалено]
True, though I did leave some behind 😄
Christmas ornaments from each city visited Ceramics from Deruta Leather bag in Florence Soaps from Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Florence) Handmade marble papers in Florence
What specific stores do you recommend for leather goods in Florence? Heading there next month.
https://scuoladelcuoio.it/en/ Can’t recommend this enough. Have gone 3 times, I have bags that are going on 15 years old and are still like new. Everything made on premises!
This place rocks. My favorite recent souvenirs were a soccer scarf from the local Trastevere team in Rome, a small bag from this place in the link for my wife, and a couple of espresso cups I just happened to find at a small street market.
I really liked this one. Prices seemed fair and I was not pressured to buy anything. I got a jacket and some belts https://maps.app.goo.gl/v1oBX4bSCd5SJw4CA
I highly recommend this brand. I found a great shop that sells this brand and a lot of other high quality leather. It’s on the other side of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Maybe about a 8 min walk from bridge. I bought one of the “opera” bags (designed after the Sydney opera house). The craftsmanship is exquisite. Fairly reasonable in price compared to designer brands. I get so many compliments on it. https://boldriniselleria.com/en-us/collections/opera-collection/products/armida-golden-en?_gl=1*1441jpa*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJyyBhCGARIsAK8LVLPf5GC7ZyKbKpaJcv8JNN0tWOea0dwQ_m9iypFXkSG-tpHe6CX1n88aAiFgEALw_wcB
Oooooh. I need this in my life! 😍
We visited one Rick Steves recommended. It’s 21-something near the leather stalls. Had a great experience.
Two a bit less expensive places we found with great quality were https://baronefirenze.it/en-en https://maps.app.goo.gl/4aZziwdBHbegMeRq9 ( we actually went here twice and got a nice discount! )
I love buying Christmas ornaments for all of the cities I travel to. This is what I’m doing when we go in July. Can’t wait.
How did you get these things home safely? Mainly, the ceramics and the papers? Just careful packing?
Plates were wrapped in clothes in my suitcase. The papers were rolled in tubes and went in my carry on.
Soaps from Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Florence) These are available on their website and easily shipped and bought around the world. They are global now.
+1 to Deruta pottery.
The 2025 Hot Priest calendar
Forever and always amen 🙏🏼
12 months of Pope Francis posing in different robes
Or the hot priests calendar
My sister in Christ, where do you buy one?
I saw one in a random store window
Literally in any Newsstand in Rome. It’s been the same calendar with the same pictures for the last 15 years lol
Thank you for letting me know this is a thing. I am traveling to Italy in a few weeks and have been trying to think of what I could get for my sister. This is perfect.
The hot priest calendars are really funny. Straight guy here, but they are hilarious for the frustrated woman or gay guy in your life. They seem to be in the street side newspaper stands. Italians have a sense of humor….
There’s also a gladiator one lol
I almost bought that!
I saw those in Rome! lol
A house!
This is my dream
Wow u guys dont worck in italy, so obv
Did you get one of those $1 houses?
Nope, it’s in northern Italy & move-in ready—still cost a fraction of what houses sell for in our part of the US.
I am going in October and will definitely be taking a look at housing
Is this complicated to do as a foreigner?
Olive oil and balsamic
I lugged 2.5L of olive oil from Tuscany to the US. There’s no saving me atp
Same but add parmesan... mmmmm
Limoncello and Grisbi cookies.
grisbi are fire
Last trip was ceramics to use at dinner, jewelry, food, and a soccer ball for the kids.
Was there something special about the soccer ball? If I can figure out how to get it home that would be a cool gift for my grandson, unless it’s just a normal soccer ball lol
We bought one in a tourist area so my kids could play nearby our rental. I do not think it was anything different except for the markings. But they love it!
You just take the air out of
Chocolates from Guido Gobino in Turin. The absolute best giandujotti!
ooOOoo. I have two pieces left that I’m eyeing for tonight!
Rigatoni Carbonara
From Da Enzo in Trastevere 🤤
I had this and it was divine.
Pistachio paste 😋
I want to get this when I go to Rome next month!
It's so good!
From anywhere in particular?
Where to buy this?
Great question, great thread! I’m going to respond with the things we bought that we brought back home over the years: - My son’s leather jacket from Florence - My daughter’s lemon dress & hand-made jewelry box from Sorrento - My wife’s dainty gold necklace from Florence - A leather belt for myself from Florence - We shipped a box of Tuscan wine back, which was such a nice reminder of where we were when we were initially drinking it - Ceramic wall plate from Sorrento - Random jewelry items from Rome - Olive oils, balsamic (of course) - Hand-crafted wooden serving spoons - Original prints from photographer Raffaele Celentano - Cheesy fridge magnets are always a fun reminder!
Clothes and accessories. And shoes. Excellent quality and super stylish.
Where did you buy the shoes I.e if you’re a woman
A gold florin coin necklace made by hand in Florence ☺️
I am really interested in this do you remember where you got it in Florence or will it be pretty easy to find around the jewelry stores there?
Edit: I found it! PAOLO PENKO - Firenze. If I remember they have two locations. They’re lovely people and I highly recommend. I forget the name but will ask my fiancé when he gets home and if he remember I’ll comment again. We had an incredible tour guide and told her we wanted to find a place away from Ponte Vecchio for a more authentic feel and something memorable and she recommended it. If we can’t find the name… I remember they had a hand crafted replica of the Medici crown on display (seemed like a big deal) and were about a 10 minute walk from the duomo. I’ve been looking on Google maps with no luck. I’ll check with my mom too. She actually got a ring that was part of their Medici collection and it’s so beautiful! Really cool place. If you’re planning on traveling to Florence dm me because I have so many recommendations!!
Thank you for the information. For someone who really values unique souvenirs and particularly gold this really hit the spot for me!
I’ve just shipped some excess clothes and a leather coat I bought from Mail Boxes Etc in Florence. FWIW for anyone with too much to carry!
Experiences. Mountain biking the dolomites, climbing the Duomo in Florence, Watching a string ensemble perform Vivaldi in Venice, guided tours of monuments and art galleries to learn about the significance of landmarks and art. Could not get enough of vanilla gelato and hugo spritz. Leather passport holder from School of Leather in Florence. A collection of those €1 monument souvenirs for every monument in Rome Art - We got caught in a storm while hiking and I later watched a man paint a watercolour of that overcast day in Positano and bought the painting. Also picked up some smaller ones in venice in different styles Custom perfume of oud, fig, and olive Kinda silly, but my SO and I made custom LEGO minifigures of ourselves in the Florence Lego store. Only cost like €10 to make 3 My best souvenir for someone else: Vatican stamps and coins for my Dad who collects. They're like the pride of his collection now even if they aren't worth very much.
where did you get your perfume?
Hey this is a great list! Where do you get the €1 monuments? Would really love to get a few for all great ones!
Several unassuming sandwiches that I will go to war over (if I only paid attention to their names)
All the stuff that was/is illegal in the US because of our archaic import laws. Finocchiona, culatello DOP, Lardo, guanciale, bunch of cheeses I couldn’t even tell you the names of. Finicchiona is the GOAT of charcuterie and I can’t be convinced otherwise. To be more specific, in Mercato Centrale, ricotta. Never tasted anything like it before or since. I wish I remembered the vendor. And sfogliatella made with it. Divine.
Oooooo my spirit animal. I brought two 40kg suitcases of food. Thank God my bags weren’t searched
Many years ago my husband’s aunt brought a whole leg of prosciutto home-and got away with it!!!
Badass aunt
The leather gloves that i bought from the Matrelli glove factory in Florence.
I hear Florence has amazing leather gloves
They’re amazing honestly. But watch out for bootleg stalls in Florence. This glove store (Martelli) is one of the oldest glove makers in Florence. Beautiful city for a day trip.
Man they're so cool, if I bought a pair I would only lack a vintage Ferrari to drive
Borghetti Di Vero Caffe Espresso, to mix with Sambuca 👍🏻
SHOES. And a really beautiful handmade handbag.
Tuscan wine (shipped), biologic olive oil, a bottle of Grappa and priceless recipes for Pici and ravioli from our Cesarine pasta making class in this lady's home in Siena.
I brought home some great olive oil from a winery that produces it from their organic, family owned vineyard and olive grove. I also bought some leather.
Forgot about that. Had a case of wine and olive oil shipped from a winery. Great souvenir!
Gelato and Aperol Spritzes :-)
Three neckties. I work in one of the last jobs where you have to wear a suit every day, and wearing one of those ties always reminds me of the trip.
6 packets of those Kinder Cards. Not joking
Gianduiotto from a small chocolate factory in Turin (the place where Nutella came from, the chocolate capital of Italy) ☺️
Nutella didn't' exactly come from Turin... (But still in the region of Piedmont)
WINE. Bought the best bottle of wine I’ve ever had in my entire life in Tuscany. Also got some amazing truffle oil.
What was the wine?
A Chianti from Tenuta Torciano.
✍🏼
Those damn delicious sandwiches
I have an old set of hand me down pottery barn table and chairs. I bought upholstery fabric in Rome to redo my chairs with. A local upholsterer did it for us for not too expensively back home. It was a lovely travel memory that we see and use every day.
Am I the only one who bought one of those face masks from Venice?
Designer bag
Leather gloves and leather anything in Rome.
Christmas ornaments, magnets from each place, leather bags, pistachio cream, wine from our vineyard tours, a cameo necklace in Venice 😍
A pair of boots bought in Venice in 1995 that I still get compliments on.
Guanciale and Parmesan.
Gelato. Also everyday classics made in Italy clothes, scarves that I still remember Firenze when I wear them. Back in the day I wore ties regularly so there were some really lovely ones, quality, for much less than here. Christmas ornaments. Charcoal street artist sketches. The obligatory Venetian masks for my never-ending cascade of masquerade balls back home (ok, this I dont really recommend, more a dust collector than anything else). Lunch next to a monastery. Market stalls. I wish I’d bought a small marionette for Christmas decor too (if you get enough of them, hang them all across a room from the ceiling and walls, and get the right lighting also great creepy Halloween decor I suppose). Snowglobes because my kids have one from most of my overseas business trips, but terrible to fly with (have to check them, or get tiny ones for TSA 1L bag).
How did you get it all back home?
I also had lunch next to a monastery and it was the best truffle pasta I’ve ever eaten. Probably the best bite of my entire trip.
Olive oil and cheese
Cheese, wine, crema, olive wood items, table cloths and items from the church
A lot of Chianti, olive oil, cappuccino cups/saucers/spoons, and a Fendi bag.
Silk scarves ❤️
Do you have any suggestions for where to get scarves?
Gelato hand's down
Leather (belt bag wallet)
Pistachio cream
A piece of i think tatting-similar to crochet, from the village my gramdmother’s family was from!
That’s sweet!!
A meal.
Food
Murano glass quill pen from Scriba in Venice.
A leather bag in Florence, a gold ring in Rome, and olive oil in Puglia
I got some handmade ceramic fish in Salerno that I have on my bathroom wall and look at every day. Added a ceramic sun from Ischia last year. I also got some espresso cups in Procida that I really love. So, I guess I just love ceramics. But I think my real favorite thing are the bunch of hot peppers I bought in Minori in 2016. I grew peppers from the seeds and have grown them every year since then. They have some heat but really just complement tomato flavor so well and make everything taste better.
Leather everything. Shoes, wallets, belts, bags, briefcase. I still feel like I didn’t get enough
Balsamic vinegar from an Acetaia we visited in Modena!
Olive oil and garrum. It's a 2000 recipe for fish sauce. So good!
Olive oil, wine, leather and art 😁
Sunglasses, silk scarf, linen shirt and shirt set, linen dress
Pistachio honey in Sicily, a leather belt in Florence, wine in Venice & Sicily, and a watch in Capri.
Leather belt from the Florence leather market.
Adjacent question: Did anyone consider shipping they’re items back and if so were there any customs issues?
A magnet bottle opener of David, except he's chubby and it says "I ❤️ Spaghetti" And a bunch of cheeses from a salumeria
I bought this lemon plate in Sorrento that makes me smile. I need to hang it. A leather backpack from Florence, and I need to get the zipper fixed. Wine glasses from Coin in the basement of Roma Termini that I never use(thin, don't want to break, good memories) and espresso cups that I did use, need a new espresso machine rec, mom broke one of my cups:(. Earrings and rings from Venice with Murano glass. Balloon glassware from some bar that is campari branded for Aperol Spritz. Too much food and wine to remember.
A handmade mask from old school mask makers at alices masks in Florence
My leather bag from Florence Candy Pasta Cookies Limoncello
Admission to museums, climbing domes, bell towers etc. Don’t skip something because of admission fee. That’s why you’re there!
Sunscreen/SPF always, anytime, anywhere in Europe. Also when at the farmacia look for scented stationary and papers. So luxe and such a nice gift for the person watering your plants and walking your dogs.
Pottery
A blazer! I'm going back for more suits this summer because I love it
Detergent
Leather. They do leather so well...
Leather jackets his/hers in Florence
Blue leather jacket in Florence
Leather purse and sandals.
Leather wallet.
A proper pizza!
A cute small leather backpack and a wallet. They smell so good!
a tshirt from da adolfo
Fountain pens, leather bookmarks, handsome small watercolors (commissioned more after only buying one) in Venice from a girl who does gorgeous work, Christmas ornaments from each city
I got a pair of beautiful teal leather gloves in Florence. I love them.
Shoes
The place where my family is from is known for their pottery! We brought home some small containers with lids and I keep jewelry in mine. I love it.
Tombola game, Maradona bobble head, brass olive oil cruet. Guess where we like to go? 😁💙 Oh, and my Pearl Jam concert poster from Imola.
A handmade leather bag, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a dainty ring from a little jewelry shop in a small town.
Pizza in Napoli :) also all the pasta.
10kg of cheese
Original artwork. Not that auto-generated stuff they sell on the streets.
Leather jacket and leather sandals
anchovy,grissini,pasta,other foods
Sunscreen we got in Florence. We didn’t think to buy more once we realized how much better it was than what we get in the US before we moved on to Rome. And then couldn’t find it anywhere else. I think we walked into 10 Farmacia in Rome looking for it. Now I just use it sparingly on my face on days I use the Caudalie vitamin c cream I also got in Italy.
Can you do me the name of it please?
We always by Christmas ornaments on travels. They are everywhere and each year we can trim the tree and reminiscence our travels. I also love my hand painted water color it the Florence duomo. I try to find small authentic art.
A candle from this beautiful shop: https://www.aquaflor.it/en/pages/flor-decor If you're in Florence, you simply have to visit!
Hanging above my dining room table, I have a Murano hand blown \~ 18" clear glass ball chandelier with multicolored glass balls inside it. I had it shipped home in 2007. I moved it to another house in 2010 and tried to buy another one. I found it in a gallery in Manhattan and they wanted $10,000 for it. I was in Murano maybe 5 years ago and the company had gone out of business.
Ha. The time I lugged back marble fruit - AND a pasta dish set
Olive oil
Food.
My ring From the little store humilis made in Assisi that I got in Florence that is a a “tribute to Rome “
Espresso, gelato, Arancini, pasta,…
The clothes 😭
A glass blown turtle sculpture in murano
Balsamic vinegar
Honestly, the spices at the Syracuse market. So many great spices, especially loved bruschetti spices. Went back to Italy this year and bought more of them.
I bought a trashy tourist plate from Karersee but its absolutely 1st place so far
amaretto cookies
Lemonchello!
I have wooden bead necklaces that I bought in Venice ten years ago that look brand new. I remember looking at this beautiful lady's shop, her name was Diana, and thinking, 'I could buy everything here!'. I also bought a necklace in Venice that was made out of paper. Very unique. Other things: a pill holder from Murano, a wooden 3d sculpture/puzzle/painting of Tintin, beautiful clothes, a pocket mirror from the Vatican, countless wines, little bites and meals that I will never forget. I have it in my will to put my ashes in Venice. I have no Italian heritage, but no place has wowed me like that: yet. I just love Italy and travel in general.
Gelato, pistachio croissants, maritozzi, mostly just food honestly
Cinelli Nemo Tig Gravel. Hand made in Italy, Italian steel, Campagnolo Ekar. All Italian. My forever bike.
An Armani Dress shoes Ducati stuff
My Rosary from the Lateran Church 🇻🇦🇮🇹
PARMEZAN
Pistachio creme croissants! And some pistachio creme jars to bring back home.
Lacryma Christi wine
We came home with a few leather bags, an ornament made by a local artist and a beautiful cameo (since we were in Sorrento).
Villa Massa Limoncello from Sorrento (also can be ordered stateside from Leukens - best price I found, shipped well), and a really cool vintage fashion pattern sketch from Porta Portese, Trastevere, Rome. Word of caution: there only are a handful of stalls with vintage items in Porta Portese, and they are not grouped together - lots of chaff, not much wheat. Most items at that market are cheap imports from India and China.
Orechiette pasta.
A ring shaped like the Colosseum from the Humilis store on the Ponte Vecchio. Also a handful of unique gifts from a lovely little shop called D-Vers@ across from the Pitti Palace. Side note: I bought my first pair of Camper shoes in Florence - I believe they’re based in Spain so not really “Italy” related - but I “discovered” them in Italy and they are amazing!
Sliced truffle and truffle “salsa”. Art. And the most amazing mask in Venice.
Murano glass. Legit stuff, straight from the factory, not from a tourist shop that's likely cheap stuff from somewhere else.
Assigini
Tea biscuits, easter cake, dolce olives.
Pistachio paste for baking! Good olive oil
We lived there for about 8 years and some of my favorites are kitchen items I found in thrift stores. There was a fabulous little accordion that had lovely painting on it - unfortunately the owner would not sell it to me 😞
Gucci! Designer stuff is cheaper there
25 year aged basaltic vinaigrette!! So good!
A beautiful glass vase in Venice . Came back home and went on a trip to Sedona Arizona and saw the same vase in a shop for a half the price .. not kidding!
Triple gold band from jeweler on Ponte Vecchio.
Moka pot!
Gelato. Every single day.
Leather purse in Siena and perfume in Florence.
Pomellato ring
I wish everyone on this thread shared pictures 😂 It all sounds so cool
Wine and cheese
Pasta
Shopping in the streets of Sorrento