Italian souvenirs to bring home: 5 ideas for your suitcase

What should you bring home from Italy? From a moka pot to good olive oil, regional specialities and local crafts: here are the Italian souvenirs worth packing and what to know before taking them on a plane.

Which traditional Italian souvenirs should you buy?

When we travel to Italy, friends and family often expect us to come home with something that lets them experience a little of the country's culture. Between traditional food and craft products famous around the world, there's no shortage of choice. The real challenge, then, is finding the perfect Italian souvenir that doesn't take up too much room in your suitcase and manages to meet (or exceed) expectations.

Here are some of the best Italian souvenirs to bring home, so you can avoid problems at the airport and surprise your friends and family.

Moka and coffee: some Italian habits are worth bringing home

For many Italians, a coffee break is a moment in the day to slow down and clear your head. But the magic of the occasion also lies in how the coffee is prepared, and coffee made with a machine will never have quite the same appeal as coffee made with the much-loved moka pot, especially the iconic Bialetti. If you want to bring a little of this Italian ritual home with you, a moka pot is a simple way to recreate it. Of course, it's also a good idea to pair your moka with a packet of local coffee.

They're two gifts that take up little room in your suitcase but can make anyone's day a little better.

Good olive oil: not always easy to find outside Italy

Olive oil is a fundamental ingredient in many recipes, and although it's usually considered a base for cooking or frying, extra virgin olive oil can completely transform the flavour of a dish, turning even a simple pasta with tomato sauce into something delicious. Since good Italian olive oil isn't always easy to find abroad, a bottle can make an appreciated souvenir without feeling too obvious.

As a liquid, olive oil is subject to the rules that apply to liquids in hand luggage. For quantities above the permitted limit, it needs to travel in checked luggage and should be packed carefully to prevent the bottle from breaking. It's a little extra effort, but for good olive oil, it's worth it.

A pasta shape for every occasion

Finding a packet of spaghetti or penne outside Italy is easy: just walk into almost any supermarket. However, Italy has hundreds of different pasta shapes, many of which are linked to a specific region and a long tradition. Orecchiette, pici, trofie and paccheri are all types of pasta that can be harder to find back home but form part of Italy's culinary history.

For this reason, a simple packet of pasta can become one of the most versatile souvenirs from Italy. Instead of choosing one of the most common shapes, you can pick a speciality from the region you're visiting or something particularly unusual.

What's more, many types of pasta in Italy are associated with a particular recipe, so, especially when buying a local shape, it could be a good idea to take home a recipe showing you how to prepare it properly.

Every region has its own souvenirs in Italy

Italy offers a huge variety of souvenirs, and sometimes digging into the local traditions of the region you're visiting can provide the best inspiration. Taralli from Puglia, cantucci from Tuscany, gianduiotti from Piedmont and almond pastries from Sicily are more personal souvenirs that tell part of the region's story to whoever receives them.

When buying food in particular, however, it's important to check the relevant travel rules to make sure it can be transported easily. For this reason, dry or packaged products are usually the most practical choice.

Not just food: Italian craftsmanship in your suitcase

Italy is famous for its food, but it has much more to offer. Hand-painted ceramics, glass objects and accessories made by local artisans are an integral part of the traditions of many Italian regions. Compared with food, these gifts can last much longer and can also be useful.

To prevent anything from breaking, particularly fragile ceramic or glass objects, it's important to pack your souvenirs carefully. And for unusual items or objects with unconventional dimensions, make sure your airline allows you to transport them.

The right souvenir also depends on who it's for

If you're buying for a friend or family member, you can be creative and let your imagination run free. Something symbolic of Italy or the region you've visited, such as a moka pot, will undoubtedly be appreciated by someone who wasn't able to experience the trip themselves.

If you're buying something for yourself, on the other hand, you probably already know what you'd like to bring home. It might be a particular local product that's difficult to find outside Italy, a ceramic object or something that comes directly from the region you've visited and is simply too specific to find elsewhere. Before choosing an Italian souvenir, it's worth thinking about what you'll actually use or enjoy once you're home. After all, there's no point bringing home another moka pot if you already have ten of them.

Before you take off, check that your souvenir can travel with you

Finding the perfect Italian souvenir doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to get it home. Before travelling, it's important to check your airline's hand luggage rules and, if you're leaving the European Union, the customs regulations of the country you're travelling to.

Carrying items that aren't permitted can cause delays and even put you at risk of missing your flight. To avoid any surprises, check what you can take on a plane before travelling.

What if it's your flight that doesn't take off?

You can arrive at the airport early and check all the rules concerning the products allowed on board, only to find yourself facing a delayed or cancelled flight. In this case, don't worry. On Flight Delayed UK, you can check whether you're entitled to compensation of up to £520. The process is quick, and in just a few moments you can find out what your rights are as a passenger!