Do you have any favorite Italian brands that can't be bought over here? Like healthcare items, toiletries, etc.,...I wonder what the most popular deodorant is, or clothing basics, cookies...that sort of thing.
Is there anything you purchase every time whenever you visit?
Vegetallumina (a miraculous topic cream to apply when you have a sprained wrist or ankle)
Rinazina (nasal decongestant spray)
Proraso shaving cream (to apply with a brush)
Trielina (stain remover for clothing - not sure if legal anymore. It’s powerful but toxic)
Any foodstuff with tartufo (truffle), porcini mushrooms, bottarga.
Crodino drink (wonderful with Prosecco)
We love, love, love Marvis toothpaste....different flavors and whitening, etc.
Italy has many food rules. As a result, many of their food items are superior to ours. I hear that the Italian version of Nutella is superior to ours. (I don't eat the stuff, but met a fellow airplane passenger who does.). The honeys and pasta sauces are great. So many food items. Think about how you are going to get it back. The Nutella would be easy with a checked bag. Of course, you can go the clothing route. Italians make fine pocket knives.
Great suggestions! I'll try the Nutella for sure! I'm bringing a duffle bag to squish all my clothes in to and use as a carry on bag and use my carry-on suitcase to hold my treasures. Hopefully that will work.
I like to bring back Ferrero's Pocket Coffee--chocolate with a shot of espresso inside sold in grocery stores. Technically, you can buy them in the states from Amazon and I have also seen them at our local World Market store but they are much more expensive. On past trips to Italy I am able to pick them up on fall visits and have found it is not available in the summer months. Too hot maybe and would melt? As crazy as this sounds....I like to bring back a large pkg of the individual packets of tissues--no brand in particular...just the store brand. The tissues seem to be just so much thicker in Europe.
This is funny, Nancy. I just put aside about a dozen pocket packs of Italian tissues that I can't stand because they're too darn thick! I hated to throw them away but didn't know what to do with them. I'd love to mail them to you if you'll PM me your address.
Nancy?! Where'd I get that? The reply is directed to "the other Janet"!
Yes to Pocket Coffee! Also Perugia chocolate. We can only find it in one place and in limited selection in Portland. I like the toothpaste as it is not as strong as American.
Rossanna candies individually wrapped in red cellophane. The flavour is similar to butterscotch and they have a liquid centre. You can find them sold in plastic bags (probably about 300 grams) in supermarkets.
OMG, somebody let us try their Pocket Coffee in Sicily which is the most amazing thing ever if you like coffee at all. I also buy olive oil flavored saltines (can't remember the brand, but I've only seen one kind), local spices such as saffron, and I really, really, really want some more olive oil soap.
A note to Aquamarine above:
There are folks in the USA who make homemade soaps for sale. Sometimes, you can find them at country fairs and arts & crafts shows. You can do an online search for them.
Oh yes, the olive oil soap! I bought a cube bar of soap from a small shop at the Cinque Terre years ago, and it was the best I’ve found.
For a future trip, if you’re in France, I pick up the cube soap that’s rose scented with the pieces of rose in it. There’s a friendly La Maison du Savon de Marseille shop in Annecy.
Olive oil soap has been around here for years. I used to buy this 35 years ago ( then switched to glycerine soap).
Roberto,
Wow where can I get the Proraso range? I used their products before but had to import through an overseas website. On a sidenote, I can't transport alcohol-based products even in my checked in luggage right? That means I can't buy their aftershave.
Mike
Proraso is the name brand of the Ludovico Martelli co., a company based in Florence, at Le Caldine to be exact, near Fiesole. But you don’t need to go to their headquarters to buy stuff. Its products are widely available at any store in Florence and surroundings. I usually go to any Coop grocery store in Florence and buy enough to last me a year or two. I noticed that outside the Florence area, the regular stores do not carry it much, only specialty stores, therefore take advantage of it when you happen to be in Florence.
You can check-in the aftershave. Who said you can’t carry alcohol based products on a plane. I buy liquor every year.
Ok that's great. I shall check them out when I'm in Florence. And about the aftershave/alcohol, it has to be in a sealed bag or a container less than a certain capacity if you are carrying it on, isn't it? And if I'm checking it in there's no issues? I guess I got that impression from the shaving products website where they weren't able to ship alcohol-based products to my place. http://connaughtshaving.com/deliveryconnaught.html
However, it might be a case of it being airmail, and doesn't apply in my case.
Mike,
When doing carry-on, the 3-1-1 rule applies. (3= 3 oz containers or smaller, 1 = 1 quart bag, 1 = 1 bag per passenger). You can use a zip-lock freezer bag from the grocery store.
Checked luggage - you can pack any liquids you want. Keeping them sealed is to protect your luggage contents from spillage. 50 lb. Weight per bag applies depending on airline.
Thanks Sun-Baked! I will keep those limits in mind. God knows I might go crazy in these shaving supplies shops.
Marvis toothpaste, mentioned above, is another brand of the same Ludovico Martelli co. that makes Proraso shaving products.
If you are interested in shaving products there is the famous Casa del Rasoio (House of razor) on Via Cimatori near the Duomo in Florence.
Proraso also has its own fancy barber shop, the Blues Barber shop. They sell their products there I think.
.http://www.theflorentine.net/lifestyle/2015/12/blues-barber-opens-in-via-cimabue/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/433999426/blues-barber-shop/?hl=en
