What to bring home from Italy?

[ChinHairDontCare]

We're going on holidays to Italy. Will have a hire car so can get to supermarkets/towns. Have been ruthless packing so we have some space to bring things home. What should I look out for? Whether good clothes shops we don't have in the UK, perfume/beauty brands, supermarket steals, snacks, etc.

Nothing particularly special, but I absolutely loved the dried pasta aisle when we went to Italy recently. Just endless amounts of pasta in all shapes and sizes, much of it packaged up beautifully so could be given as gifts, but cost only a euro or two. I just liked how there were shapes that we can’t get (easily or cheaply) in the U.K.

Oh, and Aldi over there had a delicious balsamic vinegar glaze/drizzle, that I haven’t seen over here. Wish we got a couple more!

I always stock up on inexpensive, quality olive oil, Parmesan, espresso, pistachios and scamorza affumicata. Honestly not super impressed by clothes/makeup choices unless your budget is high end. If you’re in Sicily ceramics are colourful and useful, they do a good spoon rest.

Thank you @Twoweeksandcounting and @Backstreets . We usually go to France and I just love the different shops and supermarkets there. I could fill a car coming home from France, so was hoping for similar in Italy. Maybe it'll be a less expensive trip then!

Sea salt. Both fine and coarse. Should be available in supermarkets.

A 25 year old named Francesco?

🤣

I’m in Rome and there’s really not a lot you can’t get in the UK (Kiko cosmetics, MaxMara, Aperol) apart from an abundance of tourist tat. I was looking at Made in Italy branded clothes on the market and it was more expensive than in the UK.

We have eaten well but it’s not as cheap as we thought it would be for pizza/pasta meals.

Their biscuits, I think the make is brilliant. You can get a few varieties over here but not the same amount of choice😋

Autocorrect🤨 sorry Barilla is the make.

The children might have questions 😂

Thanks all, sea salt and biscuits added to the list.

Leather goods are good value in Italy.

Unless your budget is high end I wouldn't bother with clothes, and even then you can get them all in the UK.

I'd ignore the penis shaped pasta which seems to be everywhere and come home with olive oil, wine and a load of salami and/or ham from a specialty shop.

Depends on what area you are in. If you are near Florence there are a couple of outlet villages that are meant to be v. good. You can get some beautiful ceramics & spatterware. I wouldn't really bother with food - maybe some nice salami/olive oil but for olive oil go to the small producers. The harvest has been terrible the last couple of years and a lot of the olive oil sold is actually now spanish!

Me too.

I like Italian soap.

Amaretti and liqueurs.

If you know any coeliacs, you can make them very happy with an Italian haul. They're great at gluten free.

@RedxRobin we are in that neck of the woods, I'll look up the outlets, thanks!

@JeandeServiette soap is a great call! I love nesti Dante.

Limoncello!

What is it with the penis shaped pasta? 🤨

Leather good quality is much cheaper than the designer ones.

Oh yes, especially in Florence.

Even at the market, the leather stuff is decent.

I get ground coffee, and also have a good look at the biscuit aisle.

Pasta, salt, olive oil, risotto rice. And fridge magnets. Always fridge magnets!

It's not just pasta. It's to do with good fortune/prosperity

😂😂😂😂😂