Gifts from Rome
Oct 26th, 2006, 08:16 AM
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Gifts from Rome
Hello:
My husband and I are very excited to be leaving for a one week vacation in Rome on Wednesday. I was wondering what wonderful trinkets are there to bring back as gifts? I would be interested in ideas for my kids (boy 10 and girl 7) as well as holiday gifts for my staff. For the staff, I usually spend around $20 for each of them and would love to find something inventive.
My husband and I are very excited to be leaving for a one week vacation in Rome on Wednesday. I was wondering what wonderful trinkets are there to bring back as gifts? I would be interested in ideas for my kids (boy 10 and girl 7) as well as holiday gifts for my staff. For the staff, I usually spend around $20 for each of them and would love to find something inventive.
Oct 26th, 2006, 09:16 AM
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I have no suggestions for your children, but for staff members (I'm assuming these are staff in a business or office and not household staff), you might look into the Vertecchi stores. They carry stationery, pens, daily planners, notebooks etc. There's one at Via della Croce 70 (near the Spanish Steps).
Oct 26th, 2006, 09:37 AM
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We brought back miniature Smart cars for my niece and nephew when we were last in Rome. They loved seeing the pictures of us standing with the cars and then playing with the little ones. There were also some wonderful children's books and toys at several of the museums we went to.
Amy
Amy
Oct 26th, 2006, 10:22 AM
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Lisa-your sentiment is good, however, Rome, as the capital, is really not known for any particular or special crafts or goods, like say, Venice is for its Murano glass products, (there is a large original Murano glass store in Rome, near the Trevi Fountain, if you're interested) or like Florence, known for its fine Florentine paper/stationery products and leather goods (there are also many shops in Rome which stock such Florentine paper products).
That said, Rome is of course filled with all manner of kitchy souvenirs-such as replicas of the Roman sight the "Bocca della Verita" (mouth of truth-the face of a man that was probably an ancient water drain cover) the Colosseum, gladiator figures and what not-your kids may enjoy something of this nature.
Another more upscale option is the "Linearia-Museum" Store, which is located on Rome's main thoroughfare through the historical center, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele 5, near the Piazza Navona. There are a couple of floors of art-type souvenirs-posters, postcards, and other objects from all of Rome's major museums as well as those in Milan, Venice and Florence. You might find something here for your kids, and for your staff as well-there really is an excellent array of unique gifts of all types. Being on the main drag, it's very easy to find, while on your way to the Piazza Navona-Pantheon you can stop in and browse.
Rome also has a number of artisan shops that specialize in objects made of marble. In the maze of shopping streets clustered down at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, on the Via Margutta, there is a small shop called "LA BOTTEGA DEL MARMORARO' - they don't take credit cards, and it is a hole in the wall-type shop, set in the midst of far more elegant shopping. Here, there is a whole range of marble products, from tablets with Roman inscriptions, to Roman busts, large and small, vases-that run the gamut in price from about 10-12 Euros to however many thousands you want to pay.
Another good street for tasteful and locally produced, hand-painted ceramics and marble products is the Via dei Coronari, which can be reached by Bus 64, and is near Piazza Navona. This is a street known for its antiques as well-but I bought a couple of lovely hand-painted ceramic pieces at a shop on this street over twenty years ago that I still enjoy, so you might just want to browse around on this street, to see if anything strikes your fancy.
That said, Rome is of course filled with all manner of kitchy souvenirs-such as replicas of the Roman sight the "Bocca della Verita" (mouth of truth-the face of a man that was probably an ancient water drain cover) the Colosseum, gladiator figures and what not-your kids may enjoy something of this nature.
Another more upscale option is the "Linearia-Museum" Store, which is located on Rome's main thoroughfare through the historical center, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele 5, near the Piazza Navona. There are a couple of floors of art-type souvenirs-posters, postcards, and other objects from all of Rome's major museums as well as those in Milan, Venice and Florence. You might find something here for your kids, and for your staff as well-there really is an excellent array of unique gifts of all types. Being on the main drag, it's very easy to find, while on your way to the Piazza Navona-Pantheon you can stop in and browse.
Rome also has a number of artisan shops that specialize in objects made of marble. In the maze of shopping streets clustered down at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, on the Via Margutta, there is a small shop called "LA BOTTEGA DEL MARMORARO' - they don't take credit cards, and it is a hole in the wall-type shop, set in the midst of far more elegant shopping. Here, there is a whole range of marble products, from tablets with Roman inscriptions, to Roman busts, large and small, vases-that run the gamut in price from about 10-12 Euros to however many thousands you want to pay.
Another good street for tasteful and locally produced, hand-painted ceramics and marble products is the Via dei Coronari, which can be reached by Bus 64, and is near Piazza Navona. This is a street known for its antiques as well-but I bought a couple of lovely hand-painted ceramic pieces at a shop on this street over twenty years ago that I still enjoy, so you might just want to browse around on this street, to see if anything strikes your fancy.
Oct 27th, 2006, 04:57 AM
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If your kids are interested in soccer, the AS Roma team stores (there is one in Piazza Colonna) has some nice jerseys, as well as hats and other cute souvenirs withe the wolf logo. Beautiful stuffed animals at Il Sogno on Piazza Navona. Also on Navona is a toy store called Berte that has a good selection of Italian and other European toys. My girls' favorite "souvenirs" were the Italian clothes I brought home for them. Traditional hand-smocked cotton, wool and silk dresses from LAF on Via Capo le Case when they were little, and now the junior labels of Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli and Simonetta from PURE on Via Frattina.
Oct 31st, 2006, 12:47 PM
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There are a couple of other great places for gifts that slipped my mind when I posted before:
ANTICA CARTOTECHNICA-again, between Navona/Pantheon, this store is renowned for its writing supplies, antique and modern pens, planners, antique stationery, world maps, typewriters from the 40's. All the major writing brands are here, the store has been around for over 70 years. Piazza dei Caprettari
L'ARTIGIANATO-this shop is behind Piazza Navona, on the lovely Piazza Madama (great place to take photos, this Piazza) the shop specializes in hand-made Italian gift objects, such as Capodimonte porcelain, Vietri sul Mare, Grottaglie, silver objects, clocks, chess sets-all made in Italy
ANTICA CARTOTECHNICA-again, between Navona/Pantheon, this store is renowned for its writing supplies, antique and modern pens, planners, antique stationery, world maps, typewriters from the 40's. All the major writing brands are here, the store has been around for over 70 years. Piazza dei Caprettari
L'ARTIGIANATO-this shop is behind Piazza Navona, on the lovely Piazza Madama (great place to take photos, this Piazza) the shop specializes in hand-made Italian gift objects, such as Capodimonte porcelain, Vietri sul Mare, Grottaglie, silver objects, clocks, chess sets-all made in Italy
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Oct 31st, 2006, 01:02 PM
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Children of this age will certainly appreciate Kinder Eggs. My adult kids still do 
These are chocolate eggs individually wrapped with a small toy inside.
They are made of thin chocolate, and very fragile. Maybe you can find the ones sold in boxes.
These are chocolate eggs individually wrapped with a small toy inside.
They are made of thin chocolate, and very fragile. Maybe you can find the ones sold in boxes.
