Cheap Souvenirs of Italy

Budget Travel Guide on Things to Buy when the U.S. Dollar’s Weak

Jan 6, 2008

Americans continue to vacation in Italy despite a weak U.S. dollar. With $100, budget travelers can shop for cheap souvenirs to remember their vacation in Italy.

Traveling to Italy is a dream for many. According to the United States Tour Operator Association (USTOA), despite a strong Euro against the weak United States dollar, Italy remains a popular vacation destination for Americans.

A weak U.S. dollar is changing how much Americans spend during their vacations in Italy. On a $100 budget, travelers can find wonderful and cheap souvenirs in Venice, Florence and Rome to take home mementos of their Italian vacation.

This sinking, romantic and multi-island Italian city is a favorite with tourists. Popular Venice souvenirs include hand-blown glass items from the island of Murano like dishes, Christmas ornaments (look for an ornament with Santa Claus on a gondola) and jewelry. Ornate Carnival masks make pricey Venice souvenirs.

Bring home a taste of Italy with a bottle of limoncello (a lemon liqueur produced in southern Italy) or a Bellini, a refreshing sparkling wine and peach puree cocktail which originated in Venice. Staying within a $100 budget, find these cheap souvenirs of Italy:

Find this Italian souvenir at 3G Vetri Artistici, Fondamenta dei Vetrai 91/92, Murano.

Limoncello

Find this Italian souvenir in shops throughout Venice but the best price is at the Rialto Bridge Market.

The Renaissance and the modern world were birthed in Florence. Creativity in art, architecture and fashion abound. Leather goods such as purses, wallets and gloves are expensive souvenirs along with wool hats and scarves. Staying within a $100 budget, find these cheap souvenirs of Italy:

Small, Tacky David: Viewing Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia will inspire travelers to buy their own.

Find this Italian souvenir in multiple shops in Florence but the best price is the outdoor market by Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s main square.

The World of Renaissance Florence: published in 1999 by Giunti contains essential information for any traveler interested in Florence’s Renaissance.

Ah, Rome. A beautiful, tangled city with a barbaric and colorful past. It’s also the world headquarters of Catholicism. Statues of the Coliseum, a calendar with handsome Catholic priests and just about anything with the Pope’s face on it are common souvenirs. Staying within a $100 budget, find these cheap souvenirs of Italy:

Wooden Bead Bracelets: Very kitsch. Feature Catholic saints, popes and the Virgin Mary.

Find the above mentioned Italian souvenirs at Gran Bazar Regali & Oggetti SRL, Via Di Porta Angelica N. 61, Rome.

Castroni Funghi Rositi: Jar of roasted mushrooms in olive oil, tasty on pizzas or sandwiches.

Oscar '78 Pesto alla Genovese: This is the classic version of pesto with basil, salt, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and pine nuts.

Perugina Baci: Consider this an Italian version of a Hershey’s kiss. Chopped hazelnuts fill the chocolate candy and a whole hazelnut gives the chocolate its bulbous shape at the top. A love note, written in five languages (Italian, English, French, German, and Greek) and the candy’s nutty flavor make this one of Italy’s best edible souvenirs.

Find this Italian souvenir throughout Italy but in Rome try Café Risorgimento, Di Andrea Sacchi, Piazza Risorgimento N. 63, Rome.

Perugina Spicchi: Hard, citrus (orange and lemon) candies with sweetness as natural as the fruits. Expect a slight twang of sour from the lemon.

Find this Italian Souvenir at New Port 95 S.R.L., Corso Vittorio Emanuele Ii,13, Rome.

Cheap souvenirs of Italy are nice mementos to remember a dream vacation. Luckily, the memories don’t have to break the bank when the U.S. dollar is weak in Europe.

Author’s note: Souvenir costs are based on an exchange rate of 1 EUR = 1.50 USD.

The copyright of the article Cheap Souvenirs of Italy in Budget Travel is owned by Jennifer Huber. Permission to republish Cheap Souvenirs of Italy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.