When I was getting ready to leave for Italy, one thing I could not get off my mind was souvenirs! I was so anxious about finding the perfect gifts and trinkets for all my friends and family. I kind of figured out what to get as I went from city to city, but I kept thinking how helpful it would have been if someone had told me what to keep an eye out for in each city. So today I am going to put together a list of the best souvenirs in most of the major Italian cities!
Siena-
This is where I spent the majority of my time in Italy, so I feel like I have a pretty good idea of the shopping there.
Panforte is one of the signature Sienese items. This is a type of fruitcake that dates back to crusader times in the country. The panforte lasted well on long journeys so it was a popular item for pilgrims! I am not sure I would buy this to bring back as a tasty treat, but I think bringing back one makes for an interesting keepsake, and the packaging is super neat looking!
Coffee from Nannini- this is the perfect souvenir for any coffee lover! Nannini is the most popular coffee bar in Siena and for good reason. This is actually what I chose to bring back for my parents, and they loved it! The shop is on the main street in Siena!
Anything Palio related- The Palio is the core essence of Siena, and the souvenir shops are full of souvenirs centered around the oldest horse race in the world. If you stay overnight in Siena, picking up something with the flag of your contrada (neighborhood) makes for a great memory. If you want to know more about the Palio, check out this post.
San Gimignano–
This was one of my top favorite cities in Tuscany. If you are going to be anywhere near, I would recommend getting on a bus to go there. It’s only an hour bus ride from Siena!
Olive Oil is one of the city’s main specialties, and I picked up a pack of three small olive oils to give to different people who love cooking!
San Gimignano also produces a special white wine- I don’t know much about this one, but I thought I would throw that in there!
Volterra-
I did not spend much time in Volterra because there was a comic con going on the day we were there, so shopping around was difficult. They do produce one specialty that is worth picking up if you are in the town.
Alabaster is one of the city’s main productions, and there are dozens of shops with nothing but interesting creations!
Pisa- I am not exactly sure about a “signature” souvenir in Pisa, but when I was there I got a super cute coffee mug in the shape of a vespa! It is one of my favorite items I brought back for myself. I am pretty sure they have this in multiple cities.
Cinque Terre-
My favorite thing about Cinque Terre was the fresh anchovies, but since those aren’t easily packed into a suitcase, the city’s next best specialty is great to bring home.
Pesto is produced in the area, and it is so good! This would be a super easy souvenir to pick up and bring back for friends and family!
Florence-
Florence is the hotspot for all things leather! The leather market is insane- even if you don’t want a leather souvenir, walking through the leather market is worth it.
From Florence I picked up a leather journal and some keychains!
If you are a Disney/Pinocchio fan, Florence is actually where the story of Pinocchio originated, so souvenir shops are full of little toy recreations, shirts, etc.
Venice-
Ah, just thinking about Venice gives me butterflies! This city is magical, and if I had been there longer I think I may have bought much more than I did.
Most people have heard of Venetian masks and for good reason! There are so many shops with masks of all sizes and price points. I would recommend skipping the masks at the street booths and opting for a storefront seller, because the masks are much better quality and can be found for about the same price as the booths.
I picked up an original watercolor from a little print shop in Venice, and I couldn’t be happier with it! I think artwork is one of the best souvenirs to bring back!
Rome-
Okay, Rome is a little bit all over the place. It is such a busy city, you can pretty much get any kind of trinket here! A lot of people focus on traditional shopping in Rome because every big store in existence seems to have a location in Rome. I don’t have a specific recommendation for Rome, but if you have been waiting for the right time to buy something like a Gucci belt- Rome would be a good place!
Okay if you have made it to the end of this blog post, I have to mention my favorite shop in all of Italy. There was an IL PAPIRO in Siena, and I went at least 2-3 times a week to see all the neat little details in the shop. The store specialized in hand dyed paper, and I was in heaven! There are locations all over Italy, so no matter which city you are staying in, there is probably an IL PAPIRO. If you have the chance to go in, GO!! I got Christmas ornaments, journals, bookmarks, prints, marbles, and many more thoughtful souvenirs from there!
That’s it for my must have souvenirs!
