Souvenirs from Italy - Treasures that Tell a Story

Italian trinkets I'm excited to bring home ☕ 🍝🛵

Living in Italy has been more than just amazing trips and experiences - I have also started collecting special objects to remind me of my time here. Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve loved exploring estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and antique shops for a great bargain. But Italy’s treasures are really special. I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve been carefully collecting in Italy, focusing on the unique traditions and heritage of the places I’ve visited.

Ceramics from Vietri, Puglia, and other Artisans

I like using elevated objects in my everyday life. I drink mocktails from pretty vintage coups and my coffee in a handmade ceramic cup. Every day is an occasion to treat yourself to something special. I have slowly been retiring our sad, beige Ikea plates in favor of mix-and-match plates from all Vietri, a town on the Amalfi coast that specializes in ceramics. We got such steals by going to the Solimene factory instead of buying through resale. The building itself was beautiful with interesting architecture, almost with a Gaudi feel.

I have been hunting for traditional Puglian pottery since my first visit to Puglia two years ago. I have also seen a few pieces on sale in fancy stores in Scandinavia for megabucks, and even some copycats too. Finally, I found a bowl and a beautiful pitcher at a local flea market here in Campania for a fraction of the cost.

Casa Cometa "Verace" octopus plate, Plate from Ceramica Artistica Solimene in Vietri, traditional Puglia-style thrifted bowl, Solimene chicks plate

Finally, I love this plate I got from Neapolitan artist Teresa at Casa Cometa, of la scarpetta fame. We will never forget how good Neapolitan octopus in red sauce is.

Vintage Italian Posters and Cute Art

A few weeks ago we went to a large flea market in nearby Caserta. There was a stand of vintage Italian advertisements - think vintage Fiat, Vespa, Piaggio ads from the 60s and 70s. We loved paging through each print to find something special. I ended up with a vintage print from both Campari and Bertolli.

Campari is an Italian bitter liqueur and also a brand synonymous with Italy. It is perhaps most known for the negroni, an invention born in Florence, or maybe more famously the Italian spritz, which you can order either with Campari or Aperol. They sell the liqueur itself for individual consumption in pocket-sized glass bottles. Our friend who works in advertising bought some for us, and he told us how the Campari offices in Milan have lots of these bottle-shaped designs around their office. They are an iconic representation of the brand. The ad below shows a soccer team sporting Campari on their jerseys, and the ad says, “thirst wins”.

Bertolli was an Italian olive oil brand that has since been bought by a multinational company. My eye was drawn to the colors and saying on this poster. As the fish dive head first into a frying pan of oil, the ad reads “nel loro destino…olio d’olivo” (Their destiny is in olive oil). I love the flavor and texture of olive oil, and every time we go to the countryside we always buy a local can of olive oil. We run through olive oil like teenage boys run through milk. I put olive oil on my bread, in salads, pasta, beans, and even in baking. We are also trying to eat more “little fishes” - the superfoods like sardines, anchovies, and mackerel that go really well with olive oil. We put them in pasta, or make fish burgers, or make them healthy tuna salad style. Living in Italy has taught me a lot about nourishment, flavor, and how to be well-satiated. I love the color and print on these Campari and Bertolli vintage ads. I can’t wait to get them framed and set on our bookcase.

Vintage Top and Fruilane Shoes

I have hesitated to buy clothes here. Most of the pieces I’ve bought have been from OVS, a sort of Italian Target, for some extra summerwear like bathing suits and summer dresses. I would like to invest in some quality Italian pieces but I often get intimidated by the fact that I often don’t fit into Italian designer clothes (I am tall and have an athletic build). However, I did find an amazing vintage store I love in the Chiaia neighborhood of Naples and bought this beautiful black vintage top with lots of ruffles and a pretty string bow at the collar.

I also had my eye on Friulane shoes. A tradition born out of Venezia, these Italian flats look like little ballet slippers. They were developed during World War Two as a sensible solution made with recycled materials. I got a pair of royal blue slippers when I was in Venezia last month. I adore them. They remind me of my childhood in ballet class. While they don’t have a lot of support (and I need supportive shoes for walking in Naples), they are flat and comfortable enough for an evening out.

Our Marble Dining Room Table

The steals you can get on marble here in Naples are criminal. I see marble all over the mercantino here for very low prices. Marble seems so common here people become blind to its beauty and uniqueness. I was astounded when I walked into our apartment and our landlord asked me if I knew how to clean marble floors.

Italy is most known for carrara marble, which was used since ancient Roman times and is also used most often in sculpture, like in Michelangelo’s David. However, there are lots of other types of marble produced here in Italy. I am not sure what type of marble our table is, but it has hints of red and even a little fossil detail I love. I love having a round table because it changes the mood. It feels so much more communal and cozy than the formality of a long rectangular table.

Coffee Accessories

We are lucky enough to live in one of the coffee capitals of the world. Italian brands like Lavazza, Illy, Kimbo, and Passalacqua, are well-known and featured as sponsors in the local bars. There are even some espresso machine makers here in Naples (the headquarters of Bosco is just around the corner).

We use a basic moka pot, which is the standard for Neapolitan at-home coffee. But when I saw this dual moka pot from the Italian coffee brand Bialetti, I had to have it! The colors are so bright and cheerful, and did I mention it’s cute?

Our Big Dream - an apecar

We are also eventually looking to buy an apecar to bring home. An apecar is a moped-turned-truck. People use apecars to haul produce, lumber, or whatever else they need to haul down tiny streets or places with limited parking. While it may not be very useful for us, wouldn’t it be charming to have our friends at Misa Coffee selling coffee around the neighborhood, or maybe doing a little flower truck collab with Rachel at Psalter Flower Farm?

Photo by Asia Lascioli on Unsplash

What do you think? What Italian accessories am I missing? Other than my lagotto romagnolo… 🐶 😉

• Looking for more Italian fashion ideas? Check out this post from

  Gabriela R. Proietti
  on dressing like a Prada girl or what Italian pieces to wear this spring. She also has a great post on Vietri Sul Mar, the town where I visited Solimene

• Looking for more Italian thrifting ideas? Check out

  Dana Curatolo
  ’s lookbook or her vintage-y Christmas vibes.

• Looking for more Italian olive oil? Check out

  Lolly Martyn
  ’s Weeknight Pasta from Italy or her story about a surprising cultural interaction while sipping her morning coffee.