What to Bring Back from Italy
What to buy in Italy as a souvenir, a gift for relatives and friends, interior decoration? What interesting things you can easily bring back home from Rome and Venice, where to buy, 2023 prices for food, cosmetics, souvenirs, clothes.
Surely everyone knows or at least suspects that there are a lot of options for what gifts and souvenirs you can bring from Italy. And whether it’s food, drinks, clothes, or some trinket, you can be sure that the price matches the quality.
That is not always, of course. But if you avoid frankly nasty places and do not buy Chinese consumer goods at a frankly low price, you are unlikely to be disappointed.
So what to bring back home from Italy? Below you can find a list of traditional goods that you should definitely buy. Not all, of course, – standard baggage, for which airlines don’t charge extra, is limited to a very modest number of kilograms.
What Products to Bring from Italy
Cheese is one of the most common foods that tourists buy in Italy. The first place, of course, is occupied by real Parmesan (Parmigiano Regiano), which is produced only here.
Other popular cheeses are just as tasty, but some of them require special storage and transportation conditions, such as mozzarella. But Gorgonzola, on the contrary, knows how to travel.
Almost all supermarkets in the country sell packaged and vacuum-packed cheeses. Therefore, there should be no problems with transportation – unless you take them home at the height of the season, in the summer.
The price per kilogram of the most inexpensive parmesan (12 months of aging) is already over 20 € today.
Olive Oil
Italy is especially proud of its olive oil, which is considered one of the best in the world. It is widely used for cooking various dishes and salads.
Real olive oil produced in Italy costs more than 10 € per liter bottle. But you can also buy a product made in some other EU country – for a much more modest price.
The highest quality and healthiest olive oil is considered Olio extra vergine (first pressing).
Alcohol
If you happen to visit the south of Italy, do not forget to buy a bottle of wonderful Limoncello liqueur. This alcoholic drink is made from lemon peel, sugar and alcohol.
As a rule, it is consumed after meals in small doses. Since it is believed that Limoncello contributes to better digestion of food.
In specialized shops and markets, you can find Limoncello in beautiful souvenir bottles that are perfectly transported and suitable for a gift.
In addition to Limoncello, you can buy other famous spirits from this country in Italy. For example, Chianti or Barolo wines, Brunello di Montalcino, Amaretto liqueur.
Local sparkling wines, prosecco, as well as grape vodka – grappa are world famous. From Venice you can bring home sparkling wine Bellini or red dry- Valpolicella. From Tuscany – Chianti or Remole.
Balsamic Vinegar
This is another product that is traditional in Italy and that you can bring back from your trip as a gift. Balsamic vinegar (Aceto balsamico) has an original taste, it is widely used in cooking and as a dressing for salads.
Real balsamic vinegar is quite expensive, its price directly depends on the time of its maturation. But in Italian supermarkets they sell a much cheaper version made on the basis of red wine – a 250 ml bottle can be purchased for 4-6 €.
Sausages
Meat products made in Italy are bought by tourists with pleasure. The most popular cured sausages you can find are salami and mortadella bologna.
Dry-cured ham Prosciutto Crudo is a whole pork leg, so transporting it is a little more difficult. The best prosciutto is made in Parma.
Pasta
Everyone knows that Italian pasta is considered the best in the world. Therefore, when the question arises of what to bring as a gift from Italy, pasta becomes the most obvious option in terms of price and quality. Moreover, the choice of pasta in Italian supermarkets is very large.
You should be careful in choosing fresh pasta, as the shelf life is limited. But the factory product can be stored for years without any loss of quality.
Sweets
Italy has a long tradition in chocolate production. As an alternative to chocolate, you can bring chocolate spread with hazelnuts from Italy.
Beautifully packaged and perfect for a gift are high-quality chocolate products from Caffarel, Perugina and Venchi. Prices vary depending on the quality and weight of the product.
Coffee
It is known that Italians are big fans of an invigorating drink. That is why there is a widespread belief that almost the best coffee in the world is sold in Italy.
Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to bring at least one bag of ground or grain coffee from your trip. The best brand names are Kimbo, Lavazza, Illy, Kose. The price for a 250 gram package starts from 4-5 €
An exceptionally good gift from Italy can also be considered a traditional Christmas cake with candied Panettone. Which can be found in stores only in December and early January.
Canned Food
A very common product that is also easy to transport. The choice of canned vegetables in Italy is quite large. And you can buy, for example, anchovies or artichokes, a variety of pasta sauces and seasonings.
Do not miss the opportunity to purchase a jar of red onion jam, which is a delicacy even for Italians. Tourists also buy dried tomatoes in oil and olives very well.
Souvenirs from Italy
Carnival masks from Venice are perhaps the first thing that comes to mind. After all, these items just scream that they were bought in Italy.
Masks are sold in specialized stores in almost every city. But still it is believed that copies are produced in Venice. The cost of a full size copy starts from 80-100 €.
Italy is a very religious country. And this is especially felt in Rome, where the Vatican itself is located.
Souvenirs on religious themes can be found here at every step. Basically, inexpensive trinkets are popular with tourists – fridge magnets for 2-3 €, figurines and medallions.
But non-poor travelers in specialized stores can also purchase expensive paintings on religious themes, precious rosaries and jewelry.
One of the most common souvenirs that can be found in Italy is kitchen utensils. And their diversity is amazing!
Various porcelain and ceramic items for the kitchen, made by local artisans, are of particular interest to tourists. Pottery can be found and bought in almost every corner of the country.
Gifts from Italy
It’s no secret that Italy is home to the fashion capital of Milan. Therefore, once here, do not miss the opportunity to shop for leading Italian and other world designers.
Leather products
An excellent gift that you can bring home from Italy will be leather accessories: gloves, belts, wallets, handbags. They won’t take up much space in your suitcase!
Whether you’re on the Amalfi Coast or the island of Capri, look out for handmade leather sandals that you won’t find anywhere else. And which can be a great gift for loved ones, brought from Italy. The cost of such shoes, however, is high – from 50-60 € per pair.
Bags
Florence is famous for its high-quality leather goods, so if you are here, you should pay attention to them. They can be found everywhere – these are leather bags, wallets, belts, jackets, trousers, vests and more.
Pierotucci is one of Florentine’s leading leather goods firms and also organizes tours of its leather factory.
Scarves and Ties
The scarf is the main accessory for Italian men and women. In this country, he never goes out of fashion, so there should be no problems with his choice. They are sold in almost all boutiques both in winter and summer.
Jewelry
Jewelry made from precious metals and stones is not cheap, especially if it is a well-known brand such as Bulgari. But inexpensive and very original Murano glass jewelry can serve as an excellent alternative.
Yes, they are more fragile. But on the other hand, they are incredibly refined, extremely unusual.
Perfume
Perfume from Italy will be an excellent gift for good friends. Moreover, the choice of designer fragrances is very large. And it only increases with each season, thanks to major fashion houses like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino…
