What is a trip to Italy without some fantastic Italian souvenirs to take home with you?

We have plenty of options on this list and beyond if you’re searching for unusual Italian souvenirs to take home as mementos of your trip or to give as presents to friends and family back home.

Designer clothes, shoes, and bags are to be expected, but what other Italian items can you buy that you won’t just find anywhere else?

16 Best Italian Souvenirs

Wear your most comfortable shoes, get a huge bag ready and browse market stalls, artisan shops, and specialty stores for the best Italian souvenirs!

Food Souvenirs

1. Artisan chocolate

Artisan chocolates are the ideal takeaway for any visitor with a sweet craving, and they may be found in many Italian cities.

Don’t leave Rome without having an aperitif at Said dal 1923 in the San Lorenzo area (Via Tiburtina 135). It’s an old chocolate factory turned lab, shop, and café.

Meanwhile, Guido Gobino (Via Lagrange 1/A) is one of the best factories and shops in Turin, and it sells some of the best chocolate in the city.

MUST-READ: 10 Best Italian Chocolate Brands You Must Try

2. Dried Pasta

Pasta is the ultimate symbol of Italian cuisine. After all, it’s a mainstay of Italian cooking and a favorite of non-Italians. Plus, there are over 200 unique pasta forms to choose from, so buy as many of your favorite pasta shapes, like penne, fusilli, farfalle, and more!

Some regionally unique kinds of pasta are the lemon-flavored linguine, egg-based fettuccini, and the highly unusual cavatelli.

Pasta, whether homemade or purchased at a local market, is an excellent souvenir from Italy to bring home. Sure, you could eat them on the plane, but we know you’d instead prepare them at home, so get a bag or two for each type.

ALSO READ: 13 Famous Pasta Brands in Italy

3. Italian wine

Whether Chianti from Tuscany, Barolo from Piedmont, or Vernaccia from Sardinia, most parts of Italy have their distinctive wines.

Wine is also a popular choice when visitors are trying to decide what souvenirs from Italy to bring home after your trip.

These wines are sold in most grocery stores, but if you’re looking for the best selection and friendliest service, head to a local enoteca or wine shop. They usually host tastings, aperitifs, and even casual meals.

Also read our wine guides:
• The 8 Best Italian White Wines
• The 8 Best Italian Red Wines
• 10 Best Affordable Italian Wines

4. Limoncello

You can find limoncello in nearly every store in Sorrento and along the Amalfi Coast as well as on the island of Capri. It’s a liqueur created from lemons and other citrus fruits, and it’s traditionally produced in Southern Italy. It’s tasty, and the bottles make excellent keepsakes.

For the return trip home, make sure you carefully package your limoncello bottles. Use thick crumpled paper to wrap them before taping, then put them among your socks or towels before slipping them into Ziploc bags.

5. Olive oil from small producers

There are plenty of great, small, and ethical producers available to purchase authentic olive oil around Italy. These are the best places to buy olive oil, and seeking them out during your trip makes for a fun learning experience.

One example is the golden elixir that Donata Origo makes at the incredible Chiarentana estate in southern Tuscany. It has a lovely, slightly grassy bite to it, and it is versatile.

RELATED POST: 6 Best Italian Olive Oil Brands You Should Buy When in Italy

You may also book tastings at smaller farms to visit the groves, learn about cultivation, and purchase a bottle of oil directly from the producer to take with you when they return home. Check out the best deals here:

6. Truffle-based products

Truffles can be found in numerous areas of the north and center of Italy, especially in Piedmont, Tuscany, and Umbria. Known as “tartufo” in Italian, truffle has an inimitable flavor that elevates even the most basic of recipes to the level of haute cuisine with only a pinch.

MUST-READ: Truffle Hunting – A Unique Experience in Italy

There is a wide variety of truffle goods available, including oil, creams, cheeses, and even small pieces of this delectable mushroom that can be grated into dishes. It’s the most costly mushroom in the world, but a little goes a long way. So if you know someone who enjoys it, this is a great item to bring back as a souvenir from Italy.

For the Home / Collectibles

7. Books and trinkets from Libreria Acqua Alta

The famous Libreria Acqua Alta bookstore in Venice is constantly flooded by the canals outside, making it one of the city’s most exciting and distinctive destinations.

This bookstore is a treasure trove of unique finds, including manuscripts, books, art prints, and other trinkets.

This bookstore is a hidden treasure of Venice. A tiny purchase from it makes for a beautiful memento of your time in the city, whether you’re a voracious reader or simply enjoy the musty atmosphere of used bookstores.

ALSO READ: 9 Best Day Trips From Venice by Train Under 1 Hour

8. A sketch, painting, or a travel journal

Italy has a long history of producing high-quality works of art, art equipment, and beautiful leather-bound notebooks. A tiny painting or watercolor set from Italy would make a lovely keepsake for any art lover or artist. The story behind the artwork would be just as interesting as the artwork itself.

Though there are many museums and galleries in Italy, you can get original paintings and drawings at reasonable prices in outdoor markets and small businesses run by locals or even fellow tourists.

9. Burano lace

Burano, a little island in the Venetian Lagoon, is well-known for its exquisite handmade lace. The women of Burano have been making gorgeous lace with a method passed down through the ages.

The island’s lacemakers have become some of the best in the world. In addition to the high-quality pieces purchased by luxury fashion houses, other things are available. Burano lace is used for various household items, including table linens, napkins, handkerchiefs, and keychains.

Be on the lookout for a certificate of authenticity when purchasing Burano lace to ensure you receive an original example of this Italian artisanal specialty.

10. Lake Como silk

In Italy’s Lake District, Como is famous for its luxurious silk production, which contributes to the lake’s glamorous reputation. This area has been producing high-quality silk since the 1400s.

In fact, since the late 19th century, silk from Lake Como has been renowned for its beautiful feel and excellent quality thanks to the training of the most skilled of Italy’s silk masters at the famous school Setificio Paolo Carcano.

If you want to learn more about silk in Lake Como, you can do so at the Lake Como Silk Museum.

You may also visit Como, Bellagio, and the other shopping hotspots near Lake Como and keep an eye out for storied labels like Mantero and Frey. The best places to buy silk scarves, ties, clothing, and accessories in Lake Como are InComo and A. Picci.

11. Hand-painted ceramics

Maiolica, or hand-painted ceramics, is another delicate Italian keepsake.

The popularity of this kind of pottery peaked during the Renaissance when it was used to depict a wide variety of historical and mythological scenes. Newer maiolicas frequently show rural life in Italy.

These ceramics play a significant role in Italian heritage and culture. You won’t just be taking home a useful object but also a work of stunning beauty!

Compared to today’s mass-produced ceramics, which are typically not as intricately designed, this is a refreshing difference.

12. Lion door knockers

Among the many popular Italian souvenirs brought back from a trip to Bel Paese are lion door knockers. These one-of-a-kind doorknobs and locks are often made of brass or bronze and are a beautiful addition to any home.

There is a wide range of sizes and designs available for lion door knockers, but the most sought-after items are typically very elaborate and substantial.

A lion door knocker is an aesthetically pleasing and functional keepsake that may be used and enjoyed for years. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind and high-quality souvenir from Italy, a lion door knocker is a must-buy.

13. Murano glass

Visit Murano in Venice if you haven’t already., and buy beautiful blown glass of all shapes and sizes — from delicate jewelry to elegant wine glass.

Murano glass items are handcrafted, so each item you buy is one of a kind. If you bring home bulky purchases, remember to box them securely or arrange for shipping.

14. Tablecloth from Perugia

One of Perugia’s claims to fame is the creation of high-quality, heirloom table linens. The artisans of this city have been making exquisite tablecloths for generations, passing down their methods from generation to generation.

This city capital of Umbria, is now home to some of the world’s most skilled artisans in the production of tablecloths.

Even though the best pieces usually wind up in five-star hotels and restaurants, there are still plenty of inexpensive souvenirs and other goods available here.

You may bring home a piece of Perugia with you in the form of various table linens, from placemats and napkins to runners and tablecloths.

Make sure they are constructed from high-quality materials by inspecting them thoroughly before purchasing.

15. Religious art

Rome is the capital of Christianity, and the area around Vatican City is filled with churches and chapels. It’s hard to miss, even if you aren’t a devout follower. Some are filled with art that can be worn as jewelry (such as paintings, decorations, or even precious rosary beads).

In addition to rosary beads, other religious presents include sculptures, cards, pendants, medals, towels, etc.

You can find a greater concentration of stores selling sacred art near Vatican City than in any other part of town.

Comandini, located at 151 Borgo Pio, is a famous shop open from 9 a.m. to 6: 30 pm. Monday through Saturday and from 9:30 am to 1: 30 pm on Sundays.

Mango, located at 15 Via del Mascherino between St. Peter’s Square and Piazza del Risorgimento, is another Catholic boutique providing anything from inexpensive to pricey presents.

16. Venetian masks

The first masquerade balls were held in Renaissance Venice, Italy. Anyone who enjoys masquerades or the concept of them should own at least one beautiful Venetian mask for decoration.

ALSO READ: 15 Best Things To Do in Venice in Winter

You can choose between full-face and eye masks. There is a wide variety of Venetian masks, some more elaborate and showy than others. They are customarily worn during the pre-Lenten Carnival celebrations in Venice.

Tips When Shopping for Souvenirs in Italy

• Buy regional specialties

When shopping for Italian souvenirs, it’s essential to focus on what the location you’re visiting has to offer, as each region has its specialties. This will naturally raise the standard of your purchases, particularly in the food industry.

• Shop at local markets and deli shops

Farmers’ markets are the best places to find fresh, local produce. Get the scoop from your host on when and where to go to the weekly Coldiretti markets. Visit the daily Mercato Civico held in every town and city if you cannot make it during their setup times.

Like farmers’ markets, delis sell high-quality products made in the region. They’re more compact than supermarkets, can be found in every major Italian city, and have authentic Italian culinary gifts that are hard to mess up.

• All liquids must be checked in

You can’t bring any liquids with you, so be sure to stow them in your checked luggage. If you aren’t packing a huge bag, you may want to think twice about buying your favorite bottle of wine and instead have the store mail it to your destination.