Hello, we visited Italy in 2009 and had an absolutely splendid time. My one regret (other than not having any more time!) was that I didn't buy a marble souvenir I saw in a couple of stores in Rome. It was a stick of marble, about eight or nine cubes of different colors of marble that were attached to one another in a row, making a multicolored stick about a foot long. I liked it because it showed several hues of the marble which we had spent so much time admiring in churches and museums during our trip. I think it was about 20-25 euros, sold in mid-range souvenir shops (not the kind with T-shirts and postcards). If anyone has seen that available online or knows a particular shop in Rome that might sell it, or even knows if something like that has a proper name in Italian, please let me know I'd order it, or ask a friend who is traveling to Italy this winter to get it for me. Thanks! Jill
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32742 posts
Jill, I'm sorry I don't have your answer but I am waiting expectantly for the answers. It sounds like just what I'd like too. When you get your answers I will act on them on our next trip to Italy. The marble moves me too. Good luck...
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
565 posts
There's a (mostly) marble store called Marmi that I have bought a few pieces from and what you are describing sounds very familiar. It was mostly sculptures and some jewelry all made in Italian stone and marble that wasn't terribly expensive as well as just unfinished pieces that make great cheap gifts. If I remember correctly, one location is just south of Piazza Navonna. Hope that helps!
Posted by
OP
Seabrook, NH, United States
4 posts
Wow, I have read some online reviews of Marmi (their website looks like it has expired) and that sounds very promising! I will tell my friends to look there. Thanks so much!
Posted by
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
290 posts
I've never noticed that type of marble souvenir, but the best bet is to look in shops that sell that sort of thing. This one, in particular, might be worth checking out:
http://www.revealedrome.com/2012/07/marble-and-mosaics-gift-store-rome.html Good luck!
Posted by
OP
Seabrook, NH, United States
4 posts
Leslie, Marmi Line's website is down, but I did a Google Image search on their name and I saw a (cached) photo of the exact object I am talking about (it's on the first row of results on Page 3 if you Google Image search "Marmi Line" with the quote marks)!! I'll try calling them to see if they still carry it after all this time, but I was so excited to see it again! Bryan, Thanks very much -- I looked at Maurizio Grossi's website and while I didn't see the stick I saw when I was there, I saw lots of (beautiful!!) similar things, so I think I will contact them if other methods don't work.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
565 posts
I hope it's not closed. It was a really cool store. It was a couple of years ago the last time I bought anything there. Now that I think about it, I was there recently and don't remember seeing it but I wasn't searching it out either and it was kind of late at night. At least you have a photo now you can give to your friends so they know what to look for. Hopefully you can reach them by phone. Good luck!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
On Via del Lavatore 28 (at Vicolo Scanderbeg), there's "Marmi line gifts since 1933". Looks very promising...! If you stand in front of the Trevi Fountain then turn right, it's two blocks down on your right. There are some items that look quite a bit like your 'marble stick' in the front of the store, but the colors are in a different order than the cached photo. What a fantastic paperweight, napkin weight, light-duty doorstop, knick-knack...Now I want one LOL! Cool thing about 'these days' is that now one can take a photo in Europe, send it to you at home, and you can tell them 'yea' or 'nay'. Pretty cool! Shopping 5000 miles away via FaceTime ;-)
Posted by
Boston
1698 posts
Try placing a saved search on Ebay and they'll email you as matching items are placed on sale. If you get the search terms right, you'll get one with some patience.
Posted by
OP
Seabrook, NH, United States
4 posts
Mike: Good call, I will try that if other methods don't work. Thanks! Eileen: That must be the place! I would have been in the Marmi location near Piazza Navona in 2009, but the one near the fountain is easy to identify on Google Maps so I will send my friends there when they visit the city. Thanks so much!!