Bri:
Bring back things that you can't buy here.
Many items you mentioned are imported.

I'll ask my daughter her and friends went a few times.
If you bring me with you, I may be able to help better.
I could be a Body Guard , Interpreter.

Lou

Anything food wise that you can buy in Italy, you can buy here....except maybe that wonderful bread.
What to bring back...?
Memories....and maybe a dashing italian!
Linda C

I'm with Linda on this, but you can find some interesting table accessories in Italy. I had my sister bring me some Italian linen the last time she went, and it was just as expensive in Italy as it is here. She also bought me a set of oil and vinegar dispensers that I still have, although I use them for soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. If you want to buy Balsamic vinegar, you should go to Modena, but that should be on your itinerary. It's better if you can buy it at a shop that allows you to taste it before you buy. Check prices locally before you go so that you can know what to expect to pay. You will want to buy Balsamic that has been aged at least 8-12 years, and it should cost over $60 a bottle here.

Lars

salted anchovies

My friend had a really nice oil painting sent home when she was in Italy. Have a wonderful time.

My MIL went and I asked her to bring me back a hand painted fruit bowl. She did and it's gorgeous!

Hand tooled Italian leather, especially a satchel/purse. We collect the tiny hand carved figurines from the Italian carver Anri. Specifically Prof. Karl Kuolt work. Beautiful! These items can usually be purchased at reduced prices. There are lots of Murano glass spread throughout Italy. I would maybe pick up some beautiful wine goblets and have them shipped home. Anything that will bring you joy once you get home is worth the shipping charge.

Have fun on your trip. Italy is beautiful and very memorable. I wouldn't bother getting anything food realated unless you can bring back a great Italian chianti.

Here is a link that might be useful: Anri Wood Carvings

I too agree with pottery...hand painted serving platter/bowls would be on my top list. Wine is a good choice too!

i would buy fabrics, for making throw pillows. 1 yard for each, please!!

No clue at all as to what you should bring back. I'd probably go with the goblets or pottery, something you can use and remember.

Other than that I'd just eat and drink and take a lot of pictures and have a perfectly delightful time. The cooking class would be cool too.

Travel safely and remember those pictures. I can travel there vicariously, you know. :-)

Annie

Alessi kitchen stuff is much cheaper--the red devil bottle opener is a favorite. Table linens are nice, and easy to pack. Vegetable seeds are also very cool, and not hard to find or pack. Old prints, sold at the book market, are also nice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bologna

My favorite item I purchased on a trip years ago was a stainless steel stovetop espresso maker in this beautifully modern conical shape. I still use it nearly every day and it reminds my of that trip.

I remember it was very inexpensive. I didn't buy it in an expensive gift shop, but found it along with lots of really cool beautifully designed cooking utensils and gadgets in a basic neighborhood hardware store.

I agree with what others said about food.
Ann

Would you mind picking me up a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? They're relatively small, right?

Memories and photos and what Linda C said. Were I in your shoes, I would be saying, "Please don't make me spend any time in a store buying stuff." It would take time away from just walking, dining, wine-ing, and just seeing and experiencing. But then that shows my personal bias, because I hate to shop anywhere, even at home.

I always travel really light (Europe through the Back Door style), and never check luggage. Therefore, I wouldn't buy anything large, heavy, breakable, or perishable. Jewelry is often the souvenir I look for, if any.

Balsamic vinegar from Modena would be nice, but you have to pack it really well, plus it's readily available here. My daughter always brings back a boule of pecorino for DH because he really likes it. Be sure to have any cheese shrink wrapped or the food sniffing dogs may alert to your luggage! She also brought us some Sicilian capers the size of the end of your little finger, which I've never seen here.

Buon viaggio!

George Clooney. And lots of pictures.

You're gonna love it! Italy is fantastic. Lucky you, and nice boss!

Have a great time.

Shelley S.

Paolo, Giovanni, Marcello...

Ok - might not be able to fit them in your suitcase!

I'd go with something you're going to have forever like a piece of pottery or glass or jewelry. Then again, I have easy access to tons of specialty foods right from Italy. All I have to do is go a few blocks over to the North End and I might as well be in Italy, so food items wouldn't be high on my list. It would be nice to bring back a bottle of wine tho! I know Italy has some fantastic leather items as well - I have no idea about prices, however.

Lisa

Bri:
It was late last night . So I sent my daughter an email.
She mentioned Balsamic Vinegar and Truffle Oil.

Said she would get back to me after work.
The pottery sounds good.

Hand painted Fruit Bowls, etc. Shaun doesn't put fruit in her's. Just sits and admires it.

I have a lot of Capodimonte Porcellane pieces.
I don't know if they are more reasonable there, or not.

Like mentioned, Ship items back to your home.
It is worth the extra monies .
They don't handle luggage with kid gloves.

Bring back a lot of Photo's and little things to remind you of where you visited.

If you can, spend more time seeing different Historical places of interest.

Google Bologna , to see the places of interest.
You probably already did that !!!!!
Lou

That is incredible!!!

The internet says the region has a lot of dairy cows, so I'd bring back some parmigiano. I'd also try to find some locally made, cloudy, unfiltered olive oil. The internet also tells me that if you can get some that's cold pressed with no heat treatments used and no imported oils mixed in, that would be ideal. If you don't get to do the cooking class, find a farmer's market and just try to eat everything!! Or maybe an olive oil or balsalmic vinegar tasting. I am soooooooooo jealous.

Here is a link that might be useful: Olive oil in Italy

Thank you all so much for the ideas!!! Lou, I'd love to have an interpreter, but I doubt I could get the company to pay for your ticket (besides that, my DH may be a litter put off by that idea)! :)

I love the idea of bringing back pottery/serving dishes. I would definitely use them over and over again, which would be a great reminder. I will definitely take lots of pictures and post them! I'm not really big on shopping, but I know I have to bring back small things for my mom and MIL or I will be disowned! So I figure I might as well see if there's anything I have to have for me. :P

I heard back from the cooking instructor this morning, and I'm scheduled for her Market trip/cooking class on Saturday. I can't wait!

Thanks again everyone!
Bri

I meant to say a "little put off" oops...

My husband was there for three months during the Olympics working. As others have said, you can get much of their food here already. One thing that is different is Nutella is not the same in Italy as it is sold in the US. Different container and a little bit of difference in ingredients. I don't have the container anymore but it was really good. He also brought back my Mom and I beautiful pottery and silk scarves.

Would you have time for a cooking class with Gina Stipo in Siena? She is an American who has been living in Italy for years. She is a trained chef who decided to follow her heart and move to Italy. Once a year she come to the Dallas area to teach classes. They are booked solid way in advance!

Here is a link that might be useful: Ecco la Cucina

Bri: I talked to my Daughter, for a few minutes, during her lunch break.

She said to bring a lot of " Bubble Wrap " for packing .

She brought back Balsamic Vinegar, a Hand Painted Salad Bowl, and
other Items in her " Check In Luggage "

They took about 400 Photo's, all around the Tuscano Area not too far from where you are going.

Shame about the Plane Fare. I would have loved a trip to Italy.
Too far anyway, from my Name Sake town; Badolato, in Calabria.

You might find one or two of these 10 suggestions helpful. I'm not so sure about the panna cotta mix, however - buttermilk and gelatin are available everywhere! But it's a place to start, at least.

Here is a link that might be useful: List of 10 food items to bring back

Fantastic!! Can't bet that opportunity--and get paid for it!!

I agree with others about products being available here and each trip confirms that for me. Last trip I JUST HAD to go to the pottery factories and outlets Deruta. It was painful and inconvenient to bring that stuff home unscathed only to find the same items at Sur La Table.

We went to a small pottery factory, I found a piece that I had purchased at TJMaxx! When I got home I checked the bottom, sure enough--made in Italy.

Have a great time!!

I brought back truffle oil, garden seeds, olive oil and wine. Italian seed packets are huge. Also, they add nothing to the weight and bulk of your luggage. The olive oil and wine were from a vineyard/olive grove tour. Four bottles were packaged for travel.

Bologna is the main objective for my next trip to Italy. From what I've learned, it has the food I would most enjoy in all of Italy. That should be quite wonderful, since all the food I ate on my trip to the region around Florence was wonderful. For a month after that trip, I tried to duplicate those dishes on a daily basis. I did quite well for a while but now the memory needs refreshing. I need another trip.

Mementos to bring home would be a low priority for me. The live experience is what's important -- the meals, the wine, the sights, the creature comforts which are abundant and essential to Italian life. They can't be packaged. The glass and pottery are beautiful though. I would probably shop for one of those serving bowls. Also, Italian shoes are the finest.

Have a great trip.

Jim

I don't have any suggestions....just wanted to say how cool and have a great trip!! I'd be looking for pottery like others mentioned. Don't forget to share some pics!

David

Hi Bri, I have been to Italy many times over the years - the last trip I made was to Florence and this is what I brought back: a bag of dried wild mushrooms - high quality and wonderful, one white truffle - yes expensive but worth it, a small wheel of table cheese, one liter of fresh pressed olive oil and a liter of chianti(these were carry on before the ban), a pewter and glass grated cheese server with a pewter spoon, a blown glass pen and ink, a little tapestry of a renaissance Madonna by Lippi...a beautiful red leather wallet, a pair of Italian shoes... Each city has a wonderful main market - go there to find wonderful things you can bring home...and eat too! -maria

I am so envious of your upcoming trip! What a great opportunity!

I'd say bring back whatever makes you happy. Just make sure it'll pass customs, and you'll be good to go!

Linda

BRAT!!!

Brat, Brat! Brat!!

I wanna go!

Snivel, whine, cry......

Sniff.

OK, my very first thought was shoes, silver and Parm!!
Check the restrictions before you go so you don't end up at the airport with Chianti and have to dump it!

Remind me to tell you Mark Cohen's story about bringing back cheese.... Funny!

Have a GREAT trip!
Deanna

There's another vote for shoes. I think that's three now.

Jim

Furla purses are cheaper there than in the U.S.

some villages in tuscany have a rotating flea market that starts on fridays; cheap stuff, just like other flea
markets. I did find a vendor that had vietri dishes seconds
spread out in the grass, for pennies on the dollar.

for food stuff, I don't bother; we have all of it here.

please report back, have a wonderful time!!

Maybe mail the seeds home to yourself though-- I think some people have been heartbroken at customs when seeds get taken away.

I was in Italy in August (Rome and tour of Tuscany). Brought back wine, olives, lots of parm cheese, olive oil, truffle oil and a beautiful leather handbag. Wish I had picked up an olive oil decanter, a beautiful spoon rest for my stove, hand crafted salad tongs (spoon and fork), and a Christmas ornament. Oh well, I will have to go back.

I got to customs and they asked me what was in my carry on, I told them and said I can't wait to try it all. They let me through no problem.

The few packets of seeds I brought back were not expensive so I just took a chance on having them confiscated. I declared them on the customs form as "seeds". Everything went smoothly and quickly through customs with no questions. You may or may not have the same experience.

Like many who posted above, I recommend enjoying your visit without being too concerned about collecting mementos.

Jim