Must-Have Italian Souvenirs
There is more to Italian souvenir shopping than just stocking up at a corner kiosk. (photo by garycycles6 via flickr)
Shopping for souvenirs in Italy is easy. Head to any market and you’ll find the standard David aprons, pope calendars, Leaning Tower of Pisa statues, and striped Venetian gondolier shirts. And then there are the edible souvenirs like olive oil, cheese, wine, and chocolate. But finding a more, shall we say, quality souvenir can be difficult. Here are a few authentic souvenirs to ensure that your Italian vacation won’t be forgotten.
Italy is known for its leather and there’s no better place to snag a nice wallet, bracelet, or purse than at the leather school at Santa Croce in Florence. Almost hidden near the end of a hallway off of the basilica, the leather school has a variety of genuine leather products made on site. You can even watch the talented students in action!
Love Italian coffee? Afraid of those big Starkbucks-style machines? Pick yourself up a moka pot, or Italian stovetop espresso maker, at any homegoods store. And to create your own, at-home Italian caffetteria, pair it with a nice set of espresso cups.
You can find “Murano glass” nearly everywhere in Italy, but buyer beware—it may not be from the Venetian island. While locals are trying to diffuse the situation, the tiny island is having a huge problem with products labeled as Murano glass actually being made in China. Support the traditional art by heading over to the charming island to pick out a true piece of Murano glass—you may even see some glassmakers at work.
Like everything in Italy, tickets to events (especially big soccer matches like Roma vs. Lazio or opera performances at Milan’s La Scala) tend to be works of art. While you’re in Italy, pick up a nice frame to showcase the ticket so you can constantly relive the event.
Siracusa, Sicily, still keeps the art of papyrus alive, making the ancient paper by hand and using it as a canvas for beautiful paintings. After checking out the Papyrus Museum, head to Ortigia where you’ll find papyrus shops along Via Capodieci near the Duomo. Whether it’s a bookmark or wall hanging, you can’t get more original than hand-painted.
Ceramics are a great way to add color to your home, be it numbers for your house, a piece for the garden, or a serving dish. Stay away from the generic lemon-shaped plates and go to a ceramic capital like Deruta (Umbria) or Castelli (Abruzzo) to pick out a locally-made piece.
But the best souvenir you can possibly take home is the pounds you’ll put on as you eat your way across the country.
What’s the best souvenir you brought home from Italy?
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[...] is probably the most famous of the Venetian islands, known for its deeply rooted glass-making culture. Full of glass factories, shops, and even a museum, the island’s exquisite pieces of [...]