All roads may lead to Rome, but all's fair when it comes to shopping for souvenirs all over Italy. No matter where you travel in this boot-shaped country, there is always something nice to take home. It is the country of fine art, gorgeous vistas and high fashion.
 
Italian Leather: Wake up and smell the intoxicating scent of good quality Italian leather. Its softness, scent and high quality attracts shoppers to hunt for the perfect leather item. Get a glimpse into the leather-making process by observing students in action at the leather school in Florence. You can also hunt for bargain goods at the San Lorenzo leather market in the same city where you can find jackets, wallets and other leather items.
 
Venetian Glass: It's fragile, beautiful and utterly precious: Venetian glass stands out as the number one souvenir item from Northern Italy. Glassware making has been a part of Venetian culture for centuries. Glassmakers were so essential to the city that they were even moved to their own island (Murano) to properly operate the intricate glass furnaces. In modern day, there are hundreds of glass shops all over Venice and Murano, even factory tours of how the delicate item is made. One favorite item of tourists is a Venetian glass mask, a double icon of the Carnavale season.
 
Holy Roman Rosary: Whether you're religious, or not, a rosary from the Vatican is an extremely special gift. These Catholic Italian rosaries are handmade and blessed by the church, ensuring hope to any believers. The quality and aesthetics of a rosary is simply beautiful in itself, something that is extremely special to buy from Vatican City. Just be sure not to spend extra money buying from locals claiming it was blessed by the Pope, it is impossible for him to do this. Instead, visit one of his public appearances where spectators stand outside as he blesses the crowd to ensure your rosary is blessed by the Pope.
 
Ceramics from Sorrento: Italians love to wine and dine, especially with beautiful homemade dining accessories. Italian ceramics are native to Sorrento where pottery is a treasure. Handcrafted ceramics are traditional to Italians, often enjoying designs that reflect Italian culture, like fresh lemons, bright colors and vineyards on plates or pitchers. You can decorate your home with these traditional items, or even just buy one beautiful tile to place in your kitchen as a reminder of how beautiful Italian décor really is.
 
Watercolor paintings: There's no doubt about the beauty of Italy, from the majestic Mediterranean that sparkles to the impressive architecture that has stood the test of time. Pictures hold a thousand words, but having a local artist capture this lovely vista in a watercolor painting is priceless. Especially since papyrus is also made in Italy, this lightweight and unique item is perfect for anyone. All you have to do is choose your favorite image of Italy and voila! You'll have it on a canvas and in your home to remember forever.

Of course, you can't buy a souvenir without getting to Italy, book your flight to Italy today! 

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photo: Robert Crum