Hitchhiker's guide - what you should know?
How to hitchhike safely and effectively - practical tips. Everything you need to know before you go on a hitchhiking trip.
Great architecture, delicious cuisine, friendly people and a delightful weather - these are just some of the reasons why you can dream that your holiday in Italy will never end. Check what souvenirs to buy, to bring home a bit of southern sun! We have prepared for you proposals from various categories, so that everyone can find something just right for themselves and their loved ones.
Categories:
Food
Parmigiano Reggiano - Parmesan
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Parmesan is usually called a "King of Cheese" and its name is reffering to the regions of Parma and Reggio-Emilia where it is made from cow's milk. It is frequently being added to well-known dishes like pizza or spaghetti. It is also Italy's most famous cheese.
- 📌 Region: Emilia-Romagna - Bologna
- 🛒 Where to buy: market, supermarket
- 💰 Price range: 10- 30 €*
- 💡 Pro tip: Purchase just before departuring home in order to maintain best quality.
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends
* The price may vary depending on cheese ripening period. Cheese ripened for around 2 years will cost 25 euros for 1 kg but for the cheese ripened around one to one and a half year we will pay 10 - 20 euros.
Gorgonzola
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The recipe for this cheese goes back centuries but locals claim that there is no original recipie for it anymore. It has small blue veins which are mould and it may be sweet(dolce) or spicy(picante).
- 📌 Region: Lombardy - Milan
- 🛒 Where to buy: market, supermarket
- 💰 Price range: 4 - 7 €*
- 💡 Pro tip: The real gorgonzola has a DOP certificate.
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends
* The price may vary depending on the flavour. Generally the spicy ones are more expensive.
Prosciutto
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This kind of ham is specially dryed and sliced to very thin pieces and it also has very distinctive scent. They are different types of this ham such us Parma, Cotto or Crudo.
- 📌 Region: Emilia-Romagna - Parma
- 🛒 Where to buy: supermarket
- 💰 Price range: 15 - 50 €*
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends, spouse
* The price depends on the kind of ham.
Jarred truffles
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Truffles are mushrooms, located underground, alongside of tree roots. It is treated as very distinguished food ingridient, therefore they are very expensive. Common fact is that people tend to use dogs and pigs in order to find these mushrooms.
- 📌 Region: Piedmont, Umbria, Tuscany
- 🛒 Where to buy: supermarket
- 💰 Price range: 7 - 50 €
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, spouse
Olive oil
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It can be found almost all over the Italy as the olive tree prefers the Mediterranean climate. Despite the fact that olive oil can be bought in any supermarket, without a doubt the Italian olive oil is one of the best.
- 📌 Region: Toscany
- 🛒 Where to buy: dedicated shops, supermarkets, markets
- 💰 Price range: 10 - 50 €*
- 💡 Pro tip: Do not buy it at the supermarkets if you want to try the best quality italian olive oil.
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends
* The price may vary depending on where the olive oil was produced. It is more expensive in the north than in the south.
Chocolate
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Italy makes delicious artisanal chocolates which are sometimes even a piece of art, considering their look and taste.
- 📌 Region: Piedmont - Turin
- 🛒 Where to buy: artisan shops, supermarkets
- 💰 Price range: 2 - 20 €
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends, spouse, kids
Beverage
Wine
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It is said that Italian wines are one of the best in the world with a huge variety of flavour and production techniques.
- 📌 Region: Toscany, Lombardy, Umbria, Sardina, Puglia
- 🛒 Where to buy: wineries, liqueur stores, supermarkets
- 💰 Price range: 5 - 500 €*
- 💡 Pro tip: Purchasing wine with a DOC or DOCG certificate, ensures that it is not fake and has high quality(especially the ones with DOCG certificate).
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends, spouse
* The price depends on many factors like the specific winery where it was produced or the aging period. The cheapest ones are easy to spot in supermarkets for around 5 euros which does not neccessarily means that the wine has poor quality.
Coffee
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It is worth to stock up on Italian coffee, especially if you are a coffee lover. One of the better are Lavazza, Sao, Illy, Segafredo, Kimbo, Pellini and Vergnano.
- 📌 Region: Turin, Naples, Puglia
- 🛒 Where to buy: cafe and coffee shops
- 💰 Price range: 10 - 20 €*
- 💡 Pro tip: Purchase a bag of coffee beans instead of ground coffee.
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends, spouse
* The price may vary depending on the type of coffee and the amount.
Liqueurs
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A huge variety of flavours can be found in different Italian liqueurs which are simply excellent, especially the ones with lemons(Lemoncello), bitter almonds(amaretto) or with anise(Sambuca).
- 📌 Region: whole Italy
- 🛒 Where to buy: grocery stores
- 💰 Price range: 10 -30 €*
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, friends, spouse
* The price may vary depending on a type of liqueur.
Home decor
Ceramics
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Colourful hand-made dishes with fancy patterns are pride of many Italian families and they will definetely become a long-lasting ornament.
- 📌 Region: Tuscany, Sicilia Umbria
- 🛒 Where to buy: dedicated shops
- 💰 Price range: 5 - 500 €*
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, spouse
* Depends on the prestige of certain ceramics creators and size - prices can go up to over 200 euros.
Venetian glass
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This popular handmade decor is being produced on the Murano Island and the process of making it is simply an art. The glaziers from this region became famous for their unusual and innovative glass-making techniques over the centuries.
- 📌 Region: Veneto - Venice
- 🛒 Where to buy: dedicated glass shops
- 💰 Price range: 15 - 50 €
- 💡 Pro tip: Watch out for fake glass made in China(very cheap).
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, spouse
Linen
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Linen is one of the oldest fabrics known to mankind and it is so popular thanks to its high resistance, eco friendliness and breathability. It is not only used to produce clothes but also as a home decoration in a form of tablecloth, napkins and bedding.
- 📌 Region: Veneto - Venice
- 🛒 Where to buy: dedicated shops
- 💰 Price range: 10 - 400 €
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, spouse
Clothes
Borsalino hats
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They are luxurious hats and the their name comes from Giuseppe Borsalino, who was the founder of this brand. Thanks to a contribution of Giuseppe to development of city Alessandria, the museum of Borsalino hats was opened there.
- 📌 Region: Piedmont - Alessandria
- 🛒 Where to buy: Borsalino shops
- 💰 Price range: 200 - 1000 €*
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents
* Very expensive luxury product.
Silk scarf
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The products of silk are closely related to the city of Florence, where this material is a very common resource. It is improtant to differentiate real silk from the fake one as tourists tend to unintentionally buy them too.
- 📌 Region: Tuscany - Florence
- 🛒 Where to buy: dedicated shops
- 💰 Price range: 6 - 70 €
- 💡 Pro tip: Read specialized guide on how to recgonize real silk.
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, spouse
Garments
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Italian fashion is recognizable and popular all over the world with some high-end, luxurious brands. Every year, a fashion week takes place in Milan, starring the most iconic clothes designers.
- 📌 Region: Lazio - Rome
- 🛒 Where to buy: clothing stores
- 💰 Price range: 50 - 1000 €*
- 🎁 For whom: spouse, friends
* Huge gap between prices, caused by the variety of products.
Shoes
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It may be a good idea to check real Italian footwear industry as everyone definetely will find something for themselves. Shoes combines perfectly with the rest of the Italian origianl clothes with their remarkable quality.
- 📌 Region: Lazio - Rome
- 🛒 Where to buy: boutiques, shoe shops
- 💰 Price range: 40 - 1000 €*
- 🎁 For whom: spouse
* Huge gap between prices depending of the brand prestige.
Cosmetics
Perfumes
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Perfumes are yet another luxurious product of Italy, known world-wide. Many perfume recipies are being passed on for generations. They are a perfect gift for somebody.
- 📌 Region: Tuscany - Florence
- 🛒 Where to buy: drugstores, perfumeries, so called "farmacias"
- 💰 Price range: 50 - 500 €*
- 🎁 For whom: spouse
* The price depends on the collection.
Lemon soap
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Lemon soap from lemon trees is only one of the product as this regions specializes in all kinds of lemon products with execptional quality.
- 📌 Region: Amalfi Coast
- 🛒 Where to buy: market
- 💰 Price range: 2 - 10 €
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, kids, spouse, friends
Collections
Jewelery
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Throughout the centuries the jewelery was a display of style and wealth as Italy was providing it to the most important persons in the world. Nowadays one of the most superb and popular Italian brand is Bulgari.
- 📌 Region: Lazio - Rome
- 🛒 Where to buy: jewelry stores
- 💰 Price range: 50 - 300 €*
- 🎁 For whom: spouse
*The price depends on the brand.
Bags & purses
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This ideal fulfillment for the rest of the Italian clothes, is made of high-quality leather. Some of them may be very expenisve, especially brands like Gucci, Armani or Prada.
- 📌 Region: Lazio - Rome
- 🛒 Where to buy: shopping malls
- 💰 Price range: 40 - 400 €*
- 🎁 For whom: spouse
* Might be more expensive, considering top brands.
Venetian face mask
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Those typical for the city of Venice masks, were usually made of leather or even glass with rich decorations and they belonged mostly to the wealthy class of society. Nowadays those masks are worn during the Carnival of Venice which takes place every year, a day before Ash Wednesday.
- 📌 Region: Veneto - Venice
- 🛒 Where to buy: gift shops
- 💰 Price range: 1 - 20 €
- 🎁 For whom: spouse, friends, kids
Handmade
Olive wood
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It is crafted from already dead olive trees and the colours of olive wood may range from beautiful gold to carbon black. Souvenirs made of wood from olive trees are often made as kitchenware or furniture, so they might be a practical addition to your house.
- 📌 Region: whole Italy
- 🛒 Where to buy: market
- 💰 Price range: 15 - 200 €*
- 🎁 For whom: grandparents, parents, spouse
* The price may vary depending on the type of handicraft.
We hope that in this article you have found some suggestions of souvenirs from Italy that you liked! Or maybe you have a different idea of what to bring from Italy to your loved ones? Be sure to write!
