souvenirs/gifts from italy

Yes, those merchants on outside corners have lots of small, lightweight, interesting souvenirs to buy. I buy bottle openers with various colorful iconic pictures on the handles, and key rings attached to chains dangling all kinds of trinkets memorializing points of interest. Kitchen magnets, my favorites are the colorful masks that sport fluffy feathers. There are head and wrist sports bands, and T-shirts for soccer teams, championships, and popular products. Also sports duffel bags displaying emblems of sports teams, universities, and more.

Magazine/map/newspaper stands inside train stations also sell a lot of different useful souvenirs. And traveling festival shows have many merchants selling nice souvenirs.

For women, a scarf. For men, it's harder, but you know here they wear scarves, too, so for your fashion forward guys it may work.

For the most part I tell people I pack light and don't bring back much.

I buy the cheap China made souvenirs from around the important sights. Like a Leaning Tower of Pisa, or Colosseum. Maybe a fridge magnet. How about a shot glass? Everyone appreciates that!

Seriously. I'm into ceramics and fabrics. I don't generally buy for friends, but do try to bring something home for my daughter or son. Bought some leather in Florence, and a salt/pepper shaker for my daughter. They don't take up much room...and what I end up doing is hand carrying that stuff in my extra bag on the plane.

I tend to buy stuff in the smaller towns, not in Rome, Florence, etc....unless I find a great shop that is openly family owned.

years ago it was much easier to find craft people. Now it seems most things in the shops are imported anyway...just like here in the US.

I always try to find a small, locally made Christmas ornament to bring back. That way it is a yearly reminder of the trip!

The local markets sell Wonderful spice/herb packets in various combinations. They are all sealed up in cellophane bags and colorfully labeled in Italian. They are small, light weight, and inexpensive, and something that people will actually use. My niece bought dozens and gave them away as Christmas gifts the year she went to Italy, and I personally brought a half dozen for myself my last trip and almost cried when I used the last of them, they were that good. . I bought mine at one of the large markets in Florence but I saw them in many of the markets around Italy. When we go back next week I plan on buying quite a few for my own use again.

Scarves are lovely for men and women, but can get pretty pricey for ones actually made in Italy. Check the labels and make sure of the country of origin.

Other than that I would give the answer suggested earlier.......I pack carry on only and have no room in my luggage for anything but my own clothing and things. I really can't believe that anyone, other than children, would actually ASK you to bring "something" back for them.

Cindy P

I pack light but I always have some space for small things. I can't abide souvenir shops or counters that sell things made in China that have a picture or name on them--that's just not me. I look for locally made items or things unique to that country. In Italy I've purchased small dishes for olive oil dipping (not the oil itself), paper products in Florence, little kitchen items like gnocchi roller paddles (and then invited people over for a gnocchi making dinner), linens, small glass items from Venice, OK we bought 2 lamps once... If I need to take something to a group of colleagues I'll pick up candy from that region as I leave that country's airport and I know that I can still stuff it in a bag of mine. I'm familiar with food products I can buy at a store in the U.S. like World Market and I try to buy something more unique in Italy.

Spices or a postcard would have to do. Would not load myself down with stuff they really would not appreciate. Instead I would host a party afterwards with lots of Italian food and wine along with a nice presentation of your pictures, momentos, souvenirs and some wonderful Italian music. More than a gift from Italy they probably just want to share in your experience.

Bookmarks. Museum shops have especially good ones.

I guess I can understand the attraction of the tangible, but what I hope my friends want is to hear about how great it was and that they enjoy my photos, which is all I bring back for myself - besides the memories.
Sorry if I got off track.

I know, part of me too says -- good grief, just tell them you pack light (as you said, you've been working on what to eliminate) and that your budget is going for experiences, not trinkets. Why bring back more Chinese-made junk to fill up the landfills?

I bought a Fiat. A red one. It's about three inches long and sits on the bookshelf next to the Beemer I bought in Munich. :)

My husband bought a cute little turquoise Vespa as his consolation for not getting a real adult toy. It kind of goes with his theme of buying our son a little Trabi to remind him of his first trip to Germany in 1990.

(Head hangs in shame) I buy wine, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, books, all kinds of stuff, and ship it back to the US from Mailboxes etc. I ship one box each trip. Pricey but I don't have to carry it.

The bookmark idea is great - I buy lace ones in Burano, leather ones in Firenze, other types in museum shops. I make sure I know where they were made, I will not buy something in Italy that was made in China.

Scarves are good, too. I like ceramic bottle-stoppers as well. When I can, rather than individual gifts, I bring (or send) group gifts, like boxes of chocolates for colleagues to share at a department meeting.

In many places in Europe, there are sales on clothing and other items in January and July.

I bought several small mosaic items when I was in Ravenna from Annafietta mosaics. (http://www.annafietta.it/eng/) But I sprang for the postage to have those shipped to the US rather than carry them with me. They're going to be Christmas presents from me in three months. Silk scarves are definitely the way to go for women if you want to carry it with you. I don't know any men who would ask me to bring them back a souvenir so not a problem there.

You all have shared so many great ideas (and supplied many interesting observations!). Thank you so much!!

I bought an assortment of fridge magnets as gifts from different locations......and yes, they were probably not manufactured in Europe. shrug
for myself I bought an angel bell from a local artisan in Varenna, and a sheep bell made in Slovenia.....I've added them to a nativity that came from Africa...

for my cat sitter, who is 13, I brought a school notebook with Slovenian words on it, and pencils w Italian words on them, and brought some Italian candy bars for her siblings (I also gave her some US currency) :)

Now I know what I am bringing back for my book club gals...book markers!! I was also thinking hand held fans...I know I would love that. My sister in law brought me back from Italy a Leather ladybug for my key chain, and I love it and use it. It is super light (no heavy keys for me). Everytime I look at it (daily a few times) I think of her thoughtfulness and my desire to visit the country it came from. For work mates it is always a big bag/box of cookies, candies that I can put in a common area for all to taste, this is customary for most that travel and bring something back. For my husbands Poker game buddies probably the shot glasses...or the bottle opener. For Mom's and Grandmas it will be dish towels. ALL Great ideas...I absolutely must have these thoughts in my head as we souvenir shop or we waste too much time and over think it!

I walked the length of Via del Corso in Rome searching for scarves for women friends back home. Besides guessing which ones they'd like, I had to sort through those mostly made in the Philippines. It is the problem with trying to buy authentic Italian trinkets in a global market.

Small, lightweight and unbreakable (don't know about clever): I bring back scarfs for women, silk ties and leather wallets for the guys. Leather shops also have key chains with leather "fobs" made into the shapes of all kinds of things...one is sure to hit someone's fancy (dogs, cars, sunflowers, frogs, cows, etc. on racks usually close to checkout counter). My gift to myself each trip is a new leather purse. Nothing like Italian leather. I have also brought back Perugia chocolates (am very fond of their chocolate bananas) and the small round cakes of panforte from Siena pack well and get home unbroken or crumbled. They are wrapped very well.

If you actually want to bring these people something ;-) you could carry earrings/necklaces/pendants/bracelets easily. Also jewelry charms for bracelets and necklaces. I often see really unique and colorful socks for men and women. There are some kitschy and some very nice fridge magnets. The same goes for keychains. A big hit in my crowd is printed eyeglass cleaning cloths - you can often find these in museum stores, churches, trinket stores, etc. (usually near the cashier). You can either continue to use a plain ol' gray cloth to clean your eyeglasses or device screen (yawn), OR you can enjoy a beautiful scene of the Grand Canal in Venice, a Van Gogh painting, or even a copy of a city's metro map! I've used my beautiful souvenir from my last visit to the Siena Duomo more than once already today. They weigh practically nothing, and are folded to the size of a credit card. And they last for years. I return to Siena everytime I use my cloth. They aren't reserved for the women, either...!

If you see something you like, buy it immediately ! It will be gone tomorrow, the store won't be open later on in the day, nor will it be cheaper in the next town. It's a Major Law of Nature.

Hey, carolina - bring me something back from Italy ;-)

Carolina,

Honestly, I'd never think of asking anyone to bring me back souvenirs from their travels.

I have brought back scarves for my closest friends, hand crafted bracelets for my daughter & t-shirts for my boys & DH.
On our last trip to Italy, while visiting Padova, I found a store across St. Anthony's Basilica & bought beautiful, inexpensive wooden cross ornaments. I also purchased
a beautifully hand carved (wood) angel for my aunt who collects angels.
In the past I have brought candy or chocolates for my co-workers, but certainly not after every trip.

Good luck!

We like to buy calendars with nice pictures from the museums to use the next year.

I prefer edible souvenirs, and always bring chocolate back for family and friends. No one ever complains about chocolate. Oh, and I end up buying the chocolate at the duty-free in the airport on the way home, so I don't have to lug it all around on the trip. Yes I know its more expensive, but its convenient and can use up some leftover currency & coins.