Traveling in Italy and don’t know what gifts to bring home? Then this is the guide for you. I live in Italy and every time that I go back to the States to see my family I know that I always need to bring gifts for everyone. I love giving gifts that people will actually use instead of little souvenirs that I know will end up in a drawer somewhere. There are so many great gifts that you can bring back from Italy. Here are some of my favorites all depending on the region you are visiting.
Gifts that you can find everywhere in Italy
These are the classic go-to gifts that you can find in almost any Italian region. As you probably can guess these are olive oil, jams, and coffee. I can’t think of a single person that would not like to receive one of these great Italian gifts.
Olive oil is a classic and something that almost everyone has in their home. A good quality olive oil is a great item to bring back. This spring, I stayed at Susafa an eco-tourism hotel, and their homemade olive oil is incredible. And the best part is that they will ship it to you to any country so you don’t have to lug it back in your suitcase. My local market in Siena also makes its own olive oil which makes a fantastic gift.
Jams are a great small and affordable gift that you can also find anywhere in Italy. Depending on the region and the season the jams offered will vary. When I am traveling I like to look for jams that are made in monasteries and convents because I feel it makes it more special. I also got an apple jam which I had never had before from Susafa and it was unreal. They make it fresh there with their own apples which is exactly the quality that I look for when I am picking out gifts to bring back from Italy.
Coffee! Everyone knows and loves a coffee fanatic and Italy is the perfect place to get them a gift. There is a specialty coffee place in almost every Italian city where you can find amazing beans to bring back home. A lot of cafes are starting to sell their beans in Nespresso pod versions too which is the perfect thing to bring to anyone you know with a Nespresso or a great gift for your office.
Best Gifts to Bring Back from Tuscany
Tuscany is one of the richest agricultural regions which makes it the perfect place to bring back gifts from. I live in Tuscany and have fallen in love with all of its specialty products and seasonal goods.
Gifts to get from Tuscany in the Fall
If you are visiting Tuscany in Fall, there are two great seasonal items to take advantage of. While both of these are offered year-round in the Fall you are exposed to much fresher items and more variation also while being at a lower cost. This is because Fall in Tuscany is both truffle and chestnut season!
It is important to be extremely careful when picking out truffle products because many of them are ‘tourist traps’. If you want to get something I would recommend going to a local market and discussing with an employee what product is the best value. The ingredients list on these products is also your best friend because based on the order of ingredients you can see how much truffle it contains.
Chestnut season in Tuscany is great. Chestnut pastries, pasta, and gelatos are all made. A great gift that you can bring back (especially for someone who is gluten-free) is chestnut flour. I had so much fun experimenting with chestnut flour this year. My favorite thing to make with it has to be crepes. The chestnut flavor adds a delicious nuttiness to the crepes that goes great with sweet and savory fillings.
Year-Round Gifts to Get in Tuscany
Vin Santo is a classic in Tuscany. It is a sweet dessert wine and there are many different variations. Some of my favorite ways to use Vin Santo is using it to make a really yummy chicken. A richer, thicker Vin Santo is so good to use as a topping for ice cream or even make a Vin Santo flavored ice cream. I will be bringing some home with me to give to my dad for Father’s Day to make ice cream with.
Tuscany is also famous for its other wines. It is home to the region of Chianti and Montepulciano (Nobile di Montepulciano) which are amazing wines. At any local store or winery in Tuscany, you can find local wines to bring back home with you to give as gifts.
If you are visiting Siena, Riccerello is a great gift to take home. They are a delicious almond cookie that Siena is known for. They are naturally gluten-free and traditionally made with a hint of orange which makes them so light. My mom who doesn’t normally like sweets even loves these for their citrusy lightness. They also have them in coffee and chocolate flavors that are delicious.
Pecorino is one of the best gifts to bring back from Italy. While good quality Parmegano Regianno is easily found in other countries, it is much harder to find pecorino varieties. While pecorino originated in Sardinia, much of its production happens in Tuscany, specifically in Siena and Grosseto. I have fallen in love with pecorino cheese. I will be bringing a wheel home with me next time I return to the States. My favorite variations are a four-peppercorn one and a truffle.
Best Gifts to Bring Back from Amalfi
Campania is one of the most popular travel destinations in Italy. I spent last summer on the Amalfi Coast and I found the best unique gifts. This region is famous for its lemons, as well as its ceramics. Lemon gifts are perfect to bring home from Italy. With the Amalfi coast being so touristy, it is important to be careful as to not purchase the touristy and tacky lemon products that are scattered around Italy’s airports and tourist stores.
Edible Gifts from Amalfi
Lemon olive oil is the perfect gift to bring back with you from your trip to Amalfi, Italy. I would make sure you find one made in small batches by someone who really cares about their product. The hotel that I stayed at in Conca del Marini made their own lemon olive oil and it was delicious. I took home 12 bottles and gave one to all of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and neighbors. Everyone loved this gift and told me all of the ways they used it from with bread, to pasta, salads, and more.
Limoncello is probably one of the most classic Italian gifts. I think it only makes sense to get Lemoncello in two scenarios. The first one: is if it is being specially made in small batches. This is because most of the large limoncello manufacturers are sold in the States so there is no reason to take up suitcase room. The second one is if it is in a cute hand-painted bottle because while the limoncello inside won’t be anything special, I think that they make a really cute keepsake and you could fill it up with sand or seashells and display it somewhere. This is a great gift for teenage girls as it is such a cute decoration that they would love to put in their room.
Ceramics from Amalfi
You can find ceramics everywhere in this region of Italy and they are the perfect unique gifts to bring back from Italy. I love getting people functional ceramics such as serving dishes, olive oil dispensers, etc. When picking out ceramics in Italy there are a few things you should look for. It is important to make sure that they are both made and painted there as well as that the painters are using their own designs. It is easy to get trapped into buying ceramics targeted at tourists that might be made in a different country and they are just painting and selling them there. Buying ceramic designs that are mass-produced so it is less of a unique gift.
The Best Gifts to Bring Back from Rome
You can get almost anything in Rome but, I think that the best gifts come from Sant ‘Eustachio. This is the most famous cafe in Rome. They have tons of gifts that are perfect to bring back from Italy with you. They have multiple locations, I recommend visiting their older location once but getting gifts and a bite from their new location as it is less crowded. This Christmas, I got all of my cousin’s bottles of coffee liquor. Everyone loved it and used it as an ice cream topping. it also works great as a coffee addition and for espresso martinis and baking. I got my mother their Nespresso pods and they were delicious. Undoubtedly the best Nespresso pods that I have ever had. Each sip took me back to sitting in a piazza in Rome and enjoying delicious coffee.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide and I will be updating it after more travels in Italy!
Sarah 🙂
