Italy plays such a big role in many people’s imagination that often someone defines oneself an Italy fan even before actually visiting the country. What’s the best way to celebrate this passion? Finding the perfect gifts for Italy lovers!
From food to fashion, here is a selection of goodies you can buy for your friends and family who are passionate about Italy and wish they were traveling to the Belpaese with you!
Wine
Italian wines need very little introduction. From the famous Chianti wines to Brunello di Montalcino to Sardinia’s Cannonau, every region of Italy has its own wines to offer.
While wines is one of the most popular gifts for Italy lovers, this type of present requires more attention than a smaller object, first of all because it can break and also because large liquid bottles are not allowed in the hand luggage so you will need to make them shipped or maybe properly pack them in your checked luggage.
Cheese
I know Parmigiano Reggiano is all the rave now but the Italian tradition offers so much cheese variety that if this is one of the gifts for Italy lovers you were looking for, you will be really spoilt for choice.
From all the regional “Pecorino”, sheep-milk cheese, to the buffalo mozzarella, from Puglia’s burrata, to the pear-shaped caciocavallo, there is a different product in every place you will go. Whether your friends like fresh or aged, regular or smoked, sweet or tangier, in Italy, you will find it.
Balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a big fave among Italian products but even though you will find it everywhere in Italy, I’d suggest buying it in the Emilia-Romagna region because this is where it’s produced and it’s where you will find the best quality.
If you really can’t make it to Bologna or Modena, prefer a deli specialized in high-quality regional products rather than general supermarkets to find the perfect gift.
Olive oil
Olive oil is the liquid gold of Italian food products and similarly to other goods, depending on the region, you will inevitably notice the differences. Stronger when produced on the western coast and often more delicate on the eastern coast, Italian olive oil is one of those gifts no Italian lover will remain insensible to.
Sweets and pastries
Like for every other dish and treat, you will find different sweets and pastries in every region, city and town in Italy. Adding to that, some pastries will be available all year long, while others, only during specific festivals and times of the year.
Whether you are visiting Italy at Christmas, during Easter, or even Carnival, rest assured you will find so many sweet treats that it will be hard to resist. From panettone to pandoro, from Sicilian cannoli to Sardinian tziriccas, your Italy fan friends and family will love their sweet gifts.
Ceramics
Fine ceramics is one more thing Italian artisans are good at and their creations are also some of the favorite gifts for Italy lovers.
For sure, you can’t miss the beautiful and colorful ceramics of Vietri sul Mare in the Amalfi Coast, or the famous ceramics of Caltagirone in Sicily, but also the elegant ceramics products of Gubbio in Umbria and Faenza in Emilia-Romagna.
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Leather goods
Florence is particularly famous for its leather goods and many tourists always look for the best places to buy a nice jacket, a fancy wallet, or an artisan pair of shoes for themselves or to bring some nice gifts home.
While Florence is well-known for this, you can find great leather goods in all of Tuscany and also in some shops in Rome.
Clothing item
Italian fashion doesn’t really need much introduction and even though buying a dress, a skirt, or a pair of trousers for someone else is quite risky if you are not sure about the size, a jacket or a sweater can be less tricky and certainly appreciated.
A fancy accessory
Be it a purse, a piece of jewelry, or an elegant scarf, a fancy accessory always makes one of the best gifts for Italy lovers, whether you are buying it for a woman or for a man.
A trip!
Let’s face it, possibly the best gift you can give an Italy lover is a trip to Italy! Whether you are only treating someone to flight tickets and hotel bookings or a complete tour, no Italy fan will refuse such a present.
Not sure how to start planning your trip and make it the experience of a lifetime?
Check out my Italy travel planning services and let me do the work!
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