30+ Traditional Italian gifts for Italy lovers
Are you looking for the perfect Italian gifts for Italy lovers without having to travel to Italy? Or maybe you’ve already found something someone close to you absolutely loved and want to ship it right home.
As an ultimate Italy-lover myself, I know there are so many things I cannot live without, and that would make perfect gifts no matter the occasion.
Keep on reading because I’ve searched the whole wide internet for some of the best Italy-themed gifts for Italy lovers – stuff they’ll actually love, use, and want more of!
They can choose from experiences to have at home if they want to have the perfect Italian-inspired staycation, vouchers for unforgettable experiences when they actually travel to Italy, or products they can enjoy at home—food, fashion, books, and everything in between.
This post contains affiliate links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you. Read more about this on our disclosure page here.
Table of Contents
- 30+ Authentic Italian gifts for Italy lovers
- ITALY VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES
- WINE COURSE BOOK
- WINE SUBSCRIPTION
- WINE TRAILS OF ITALY MAP
- ITALY-THEMED GIFT BASKET
- AN ITALIAN LEATHER WALLET OR PURSE
- ITALIAN COFFEE MAKER
- GOOD ITALIAN COFFEE
- ITALIAN CHOCOLATE
- A BOOK SET IN ITALY
- AN ITALIAN COOKBOOK
- ITALIAN COOKING DVD
- PASTA MAKER
- ITALY GUIDES
- ITALIAN PHRASES GUIDE
- AN ITALY PASSPORT COVER
- ITALY MAPS AND POSTERS
- GUSTO DI ROMA SUBSCRIPTION
- AQUA DI PARMA
- LIMONCELLO STUFF
- MURANO GLASS
- OLIVE OIL SUBSCRIPTION
- POCKET COFFEE
- ITALIAN INSPIRED CLOTHING
- VENETIAN MASK
- PANETTONE
- PARMIGIANO CHEESE
- ITALY PICTURE BOOK
- PHOTO SESSION FOR THE FUTURE
- TICKETS TO ITALY!
- ITALIAN TRUFFLES
30+ Authentic Italian gifts for Italy lovers
ITALY VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES
Your significant other, your parents, or your best friend cannot travel right now to Italy? The good thing about living in 2020 is that we can pretty much do anything online.
The good thing is that, even though it is not the real deal, it can still be authentic.
Here are a few handpicked experiences anyone will appreciate:
- TakeWalks is a great resource where you will find tons of tours from home experiences. Book an online tour with them for only $US 10, and as well as your virtual experience, you’ll also receive a $US 25 voucher for any Walks tour around the globe, valid for 2 years! My favorite ones: Sunday dinner in Italy with Italian chefs Denyse & Roberto, An Introduction to Italian Wine, or Highlights of the Uffizi Gallery;
- GetYourGuide is another resource I usually use for tours whenever I travel. They have also created many great online experiences, like visiting Ancient Rome on a virtual tour with a local guide.
- Airbnb experiences have a large variety of activities, but I particularly like the online cooking classes with Italian Michelin star chefs: Paolo Gramaglia will meet you from Pompei, Gaetano will teach you the taste of Tuscany, while Cristina will take you to Rome and its local delicious food.
WINE COURSE BOOK
If you decide to offer an online wine-tasting experience, you can add a wine coursebook to the mix. Mix this with the next point, and you’ll have the perfect gift for wine lovers.
Italy is one of the most famous wine producers, and I’m sure anyone has heard of Prosecco or Chianti, but there are so many great wines waiting for you to discover. Sparkling wines, red wines, white wines, or roses—you won’t go wrong when choosing one from Italy.
WINE SUBSCRIPTION
The Plonk Wine Club Gift is officially my favorite website!
They have tons of wines and have different gift packages you can choose from: mixed wine, white wine, and red wine. With each order, you can choose between 4 and 12 bottles – either 1 bottle of 4 types or 3 bottles of each – and you get free shipping.
They provide a free professional-grade corkscrew with the first shipment. With each package, you will also get detailed tasting notes, wine descriptions, and expertly chosen recipe pairings.
WINE TRAILS OF ITALY MAP
What wine lover wouldn’t dream of planning a road trip through the wine region in Italy? That would be a dream vacation for me, and I’m sure any Italy lover out there!
The map of Italy’s wine trails would be a perfect gift to make planning easier. It includes 125 driving tours that will take you through Italy’s wineries, towns, villages, and countryside.
From Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Veneto, Toscana, and everything in between, this guide will take you through a dream Italy itinerary.
This would go perfectly with some great Italian wine glasses.
ITALY-THEMED GIFT BASKET
Because food is such an important part of our lives, this gift will be appreciated by anyone!
Italian food is one of the most delicious you will find, and there are plenty of ready-made baskets that can be delivered directly to your door.
They are filled with premium-quality goodies, including traditional Italian cheese, extra virgin olive oil, truffle oil, aged balsamic, and so much more. My mouth waters when I think about it.
AN ITALIAN LEATHER WALLET OR PURSE
The leather Italian products are some of the best you will find around the world.
I love exploring the small shops in Venice, where I always find true gems for such low prices. They are top quality, and the good thing is that they can also be delivered to your home if you cannot go to Italy.
A great wallet or bag will always come in handy, no matter if we talk about travel or day-to-day life. And a great quality leather product will last forever.
ITALIAN COFFEE MAKER
Before living in Italy, I wasn’t a huge coffee fan—to be fair, I didn’t drink coffee at all.
However, after a few months of living there, I was used to drinking around four cups every day. That’s the Italian way. You have a good, strong coffee with every meal.
And trust me when I say Italians take their coffee really seriously. No matter if you take your coffee at the corner, you’ll always have a traditional “macchinetta” at home. I had one back home, and I carried it with me whenever I moved.
Italian people think the older the coffee machine, the better the coffee. That’s why you will want to gift a really nice one that will last for years.
There are many brands out there, but the one you will see most in Italy is the Bialetti. My friend bought a small pink one from a shop in Amalfi, and it makes for a great souvenir that you can also use.
GOOD ITALIAN COFFEE
What goes best with a good coffee machine? Of course, some good Italian coffee.
There are a few brands out there, but I might be biased because I’ve lived and studied in Trieste. That’s why I always go for Illy coffee.
Their little coffee place in Via delle Torri was my favorite getaway, along with the mouthwatering sweets and their small, pretty spoons.
Don’t say I haven’t told you, but Illy has a great subscription any coffee addict will jump for joy for. You get 20% off, a welcome gift, and free shipping on recurring deliveries.
If, however, you are looking for a one-off gift, check out their gift sets and make someone happy today. They even have those little spoons I once had a passion for, some pretty unique mocca coffee machines, and many more coffee accessories.
ITALIAN CHOCOLATE
Some years ago I went with some friends to Perugia during the famous chocolate fair. It was a day trip filled with all kinds of amazing chocolate options, but my favorite one will always be the Baci Perugina.
Baci means kisses in Italian, and they make for great gifts. The chocolate is delicious, with a whole walnut hidden at the center of quality chocolate. Each chocolate comes with a message, just like the Chinese fortune cookies, which will make them even more fun to enjoy.
A BOOK SET IN ITALY
One of the best and easiest ways of traveling to Italy when it is not possible, no matter the reason, is through a book set in one of the country’s beautiful towns.
I’ve gathered here a very comprehensive list of books set in Italy to inspire your next gift. Any Italy-lover will appreciate any of these books and would be able to travel from the North to the South, from charming Tuscany to authentic Sicily and beyond.
AN ITALIAN COOKBOOK
They say love comes from the heart but passes through the stomach. Cooking a delicious Italian meal will not take a lot of time but will leave everyone happy!
That’s why a good Italian cookbook that will guide anyone in the kitchen is a great gift, especially for Italy lovers.
I always look for real Italian cooks who share with us the secrets and recipes they’ve learned from their parents and grandparents.
ITALIAN COOKING DVD
Is the person you are looking for a gift for more into watching a cooking video? No worries, there are plenty of DVD options out there.
I used to watch the Two Greedy Italians series on TV, and I loved how fun they made it. Apart from seeing some parts of Italy I love and miss and learning to cook the authentic Italian way, they are also fun and entertaining to watch.
PASTA MAKER
If they learn how to cook the real Italian way, they must absolutely have a pasta maker.
Nothing compares to the taste of freshly made pasta. And nothing will make someone more happy and more accomplished than creating the whole dish from scratch.
I know the “nonnas” used to do it by hand, but when they are just starting out, a pasta maker will make life much easier.
ITALY GUIDES
I’m sure any Italian-lover is always planning for the next trip to the country. At least, that’s what I do. In the past almost 10 years, I’ve gone back over and over again to explore every part of the country.
When I studied there, I didn’t have the internet on my phone—I didn’t even have a smartphone. Reading guides was a great experience. I still like to do that; I think it’s different from anything else.
That’s why I think that an Italy guide would make a perfect gift.
ITALIAN PHRASES GUIDE
For that friend who loves Italy but doesn’t speak Italian, using an Italian phrase guide will give them enough time to rehearse.
Of course, there are certain things you need to know before visiting the first time, and some come down to a few phrases. They will come in handy, especially if you travel to smaller towns where people might not speak English.
AN ITALY PASSPORT COVER
If the person you are looking to buy a gift for loves to travel, they will surely enjoy a travel-related passport cover.
If we’re talking about an Italy lover, you can buy a real leather Italy cover as a gift. Also, here you can find lots of pretty fun passport covers – with the map of Italy, the Italian flag, different famous landmarks, or Italian words ( I like this one with “Ciao Bella“).
ITALY MAPS AND POSTERS
I just love a nice customer map to hang on my wall to remind me of the places I love more. I have one with Kotor on our bedroom wall, and that’s because it is where we met and went for our first vacation together.
However, I would never say no to a map of Rome, or any other Italian town. And I bet neither are your friends because it makes for a great Italy-themed gift.
I also love vintage prints of places like Amalfi or Capri, which I think look amazing on a wall. They just remind me of one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Of course, you’ll also find Rome, Venice, or Florence.
GUSTO DI ROMA SUBSCRIPTION
This is a subscription box for sweet and savory Italian delicacies.
Make the gift of 5-6 gourmet Italian treats every month ranging from salami by artisan manufacturers, biscotti from Tuscany, olives in sea salt brine from Abruzzo, grilled vegetables in extra virgin olive oil from Calabria, fruit jam from Trentino-Alto Adige, pistachio cream and chocolate bars with cinnamon from Sicily.
All the food is ready to eat and won’t require any cooking or preparation.
Check it out and order it here!
AQUA DI PARMA
An authentic Italian fragrance is always a great gift, no matter how many perfumes one might have.
Aqua di Parma screams, “Italy.” Its scent and simple design are very Italian, and you can choose from the Fico di Amalfi, Arancia di Capri, Mandorlo di Sicilia, Rosa Nobile, or Magnolia Nobile.
LIMONCELLO STUFF
The most refreshing aperitivo and the prettiest design you will find in Italy. The lemons in Sorrento and Amalfi are some of the best you’ll find around the world, and they make the best limoncello.
When it comes to limoncello-inspired gifts, the options are countless:
- a pack of 4 bottles of some of the most amazing Limoncello of Sorrento
- Hand-painted Jar ‘LEMON’ filled with Limoncello of Sorrento
- Limoncello Ceramic Glasses and Ceramic Tray
- Bath and Body Works Sparkling Limoncello Gift Set
- Design Imports Lemon Bliss Table Linens
MURANO GLASS
Let me tell you a secret: Murano glass comes from the island of Murano, near Venice, but you won’t find it only there.
I got some lovely earrings with purple Murano glass from Verona and received some as a gift from one of my besties. I absolutely love them and have taken them with me all the way to Hong Kong.
That’s why I think a Murano glass charm or cameo would make for the perfect gift. The same goes for a colorful bracelet, hair clip, or a watch with a leather band.
OLIVE OIL SUBSCRIPTION
Olive oil goes with anything. Its strong taste is hard to miss, and a good type is priceless.
The Italian Olive Oil Club has three types of subscriptions: 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Every month, they select and send a distinctive olive oil from a different region of Italy. A newsletter is also included in the package, with olive oil and producer details as well as delicious recipes to savor with your family and friends.
POCKET COFFEE
I’ve seen a lot of people talking about pocket coffee in a Facebook group about Italy.
I guess it’s a big deal since it cannot be found in the US, but I’ve never thought of it like that. Thus, it makes for a great gift for the Italian coffee lover.
It is basically chocolate filled with strong coffee that will be an addition to the daily dose of coffee.
ITALIAN INSPIRED CLOTHING
I absolutely adore hoodies with Italian messages, dresses perfect for summer on the Amalfi Coast, shoes with lemons, and phone cases with Italian tiles.
These are only a few ideas, but you’ll find plenty of options online to choose from.
VENETIAN MASK
A Venetian mask is a great souvenir to bring home and also something to offer as a gift. Before ever going to Venice, I received one mask as a gift, and I absolutely loved it. It made me dream about the moment I would finally get to Italy and get to buy one myself.
Fate made it so that I would visit Venice for the first time during Carnival – so, that’s me trying a borrowed mask from someone, I don’t really remember how I got to do it. Everyone wears a costume or a mask during those days on the streets of Venice.
The nice thing is that you’ll find plenty of options online, and you won’t have to travel all the way to Venice for a mask.
There are those that cover only your eyes or the whole face. No matter which one you choose, they are all unique and beautiful.
PANETTONE
Panettone is a traditional Italian sweet usually served on special occasions and celebrations, such as Christmas or Easter.
It is sweet and can come in different versions filled with chocolate, lemon, coffee, or anything else in between. However, the traditional one is simple and only has chopped dried fruit in it.
PARMIGIANO CHEESE
Parmesan cheese is something Italians cannot live without. It is the ingredient that you’ll always find in their refrigerator and something I came to love and cherish as well.
A friend of mine told me that as quarantine was starting to settle in where she lives (Germany), an Italian friend of hers made sure to order and have a whole lot of parmesan at home. Who cares about toilet paper and hand sanitizer when you stay inside and you have parmesan?
So yes, real delicious parmesan cheese would always be appreciated!
ITALY PICTURE BOOK
The guys at Blub create super pretty photo books that make great gifts.
They are personalized, and you can choose from different sizes, add your pictures, and create an Art and photography book, a Memoir Book, or a Children’s picture book.
Check it out and create the perfect gift here!
PHOTO SESSION FOR THE FUTURE
The guys over at Flytographer are great at selecting some of the best photographers on location. They have been featured everywhere, from The New York Times to Martha Stewart Weddings, and have been called “The Future of Travel Photography” by Conde Nast Traveler and “The #1 Gift for Travelers” by Forbes.
I’m sure the person you buy a gift for will appreciate a voucher for a photo session whenever they are able to visit their Italy bucket list destinations.
Whether they are planning to visit Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Genoa, Bologna, Puglia, Cinque Terre, or anywhere in between, the platform will help them find a professional photographer.
Just check out the stunning pictures featured on their platform! I’m sure anyone would love to have some amazing memories from Italy.
TICKETS TO ITALY!
The ultimate gift for someone you truly care about is booking a tour or even a plane ticket to Italy for someone who loves the destination. It really screams, ” I care for you.”
And trust me, they will go wild as soon as they find out about it.
I love Tourradar because they have tons of vacation options worldwide, including Italy. They offer some of the best deals worldwide, and they work with many tour operators to do that.
ITALIAN TRUFFLES
I know not everyone likes truffles, but if you know a lover, you’ll certainly make him or her happy with a gift, including the rarest of mushrooms.
Go for truffle cream, aged cheese with truffle, or sliced black truffles. You can find them all and much more here!
PIN FOR LATER!