Top 3 souvenirs to buy from Italy

There are so many things that you could buy from Italy as souvenirs for your friends and family back in your home country. For me as a budget traveler, I only buy those small and light (of course cheap also) souvenirs which can be easily carried on board of my flight without incurring extra freight and protection charges. I still remembered those souvenirs that I bought in Bali broke in the course of my Airasia flight after checking in as hold baggage. Travel tips: Never check in fragile items during your flight. You can’t imagine how rough and careless the flight crews treat those hold baggage. They simply throw and stack your baggage without taking a single care of them, and no matter how many “Fragile” warning stickers you have put on!

By the way, these were what I bought on my travel to Italy, which are great for souvenirs for friends, office colleagues or family members.

1) Baratti & Milano chocolate is one of the oldest chocolate maker in Italy. Established in Torino, Italy since 1858, I would say it’s the best milk chocolate I had ever eaten so far. These chocolate is as good as, if not better than, those top favourite chocolate makers from Europe, such as Lindt from Switzerland, Thorntons from UK, or Neuhaus from Brussels. You must buy home some Baratti & Milano chocolates or at least try them while you are in Italy. I bought the souvenir pack with an assortment of varieties in Rome Ciampino Airport.

2) The miniature replica of Pisa Tower. There are in many different sizes and materials and of course prices. The best I found is this one that I bought in Pisa, from one of the stalls located beside the real Pisa Tower. Its made of some sort of composite material (I don’t know what is that, it feels like plastic but weigh like stone). It is about 12 inch tall and carved with sufficient details of the architecture of Pisa Tower. The whole piece is in milky white colour with brown highlights to details. It is best for souvenir to be put in your living room.

3) Need we say more? Fridge magnets are among the top tourists favourite souvenir items on travel. There is an abundance of choice for these fridge magnets found in every tourists spots in Italy, with different design and price. Generally, you can get 1 for 2 Euro or less. Of course, higher price is always justified by its quality, albeit you have to look for bargain for the same type of design from different places. I bought these magnets in Rome, my last stop in Europe, just before my flight.

Always plan what to buy when for souvenirs. The best is to buy it just before your flight home. However, you have to make sure the souvenirs that you want to buy is available at your last stop. For example, you need to buy Neuhaus Belgian chocolate in Brussel eventhough Brussels is not your last stop in Europe, just because you won’t be able to find one elsewhere. Otherwise, you can buy Guylian belgian chocolates instead which are widely available in European airports. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel guide to Europe

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.