A Gift Guide for all the Italophiles in Your Life

Issue #8

Nov 24, 2022

Does the world really need another gift guide? I’m not sure, to be honest, but I hope that this one might give you some ideas for things you wouldn’t otherwise have thought of. What you’ll find here are items that either I already have and wholeheartedly recommend because I actually use and love them or things that I covet. What you won’t find is a list of stupidly expensive gifts by designer brands that you already know. Instead, this gift guide spotlights independent makers and small(ish) brands that may or may not be on your radar, but which, in my humble opinion, are worth spending your hard-earned cash on.

And speaking of supporting independent makers, I’m enabling paid contributions here so you can support my work if you’d like to—because it may seem effortless, but good journalism is actually a lot of work. There’s no paywall—yet. Rather, you can think of it as a tip jar. If you’re enjoying this newsletter and want to help me keep it going, you can contribute by upgrading your subscription. Upgrade by December 31st and you’ll get a 40% discount on the $7 monthly/$70 annual subscription rate using this link. Now, without further ado, here’s my gift guide.

Books & Magazines

"How to Be Italian" photo courtesy of Maria Pasquale

For the person on your list who appreciates beautifully made coffee table books, the ultimate tome is Italian Chic by Daria Reina and Andrea Ferolla, the husband-and-wife team behind Rome’s uber-chic concept shop Chez Dédé. This hefty tome has a prominent place on my bookshelf and I pull it down whenever I’m planning a trip in Italy—not because it’s a guidebook per se, but because I know that if Daria and Andrea have included it in this book it’s worth visiting. Organized by region, Italian Chic is a visually inspired journey through the country, from Piedmont in the north to Sicily in the south.

How to Be Italian by my friend and fellow journalist Maria Pasquale is a love letter to Italy and Italian culture in book form. Organized around themes like eating, drinking, dressing, traveling, and having fun, this book aims to explain the Italian psyche and celebrate the Italian way of doing things.

For the person on your list who loves a good novel, I have to recommend the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. The first one, My Brilliant Friend, is not the easiest book to get into, but stick with it and you’ll start to feel invested in the lives of Elena and her friend Lila. The four novels in the series cover decades of their lives, starting with their childhood in a poor Neapolitan neighborhood and continuing through their adulthood as their lives take diverging paths.

For the history buff on your list, SPQR by renowned classicist Mary Beard is an engaging way to learn about ancient Rome. From the early days of the Roman republic to the beginning of the Empire’s downfall, this book manages to make ancient history riveting.

If you know someone planning a trip to Rome who would benefit from an actual guidebook, the 2023 edition of Fodor’s Rome, which I updated, has just been released.

For the die-hard Italophile who’s always hungry for Italy news, travel guides, recipes, and hotel reviews, a subscription to Italy Magazine would be a great gift. It’s run by a fantastic team of editors who put out far more Italy-related content than I ever could on my own, though you can read some of my articles there too. Subscriber perks include access to the full archives of premium content as well as the quarterly e-magazine Bellissimo. To sweeten the deal, they’re currently offering a special holiday promo.

Fashion & Accessories

Once again I have to mention Chez Dédé because in addition to writing books and curating a fabulous selection of objects, Daria and Andrea design bags, t-shirts, silk scarves, and other accessories. And in my humble opinion, there’s nothing more covetable than Le Grand Sac. Designed to be big enough to fit a helmet, chic enough to tote around the city, but durable enough to bring to the beach, this bag is like a calling card—if I see someone carrying one around, I know they’re in on the secret. Each bag is made of a cotton-linen blend with leather handles and interior pockets. It comes in a variety of colors and prints with the name of a place silk screened across the front. I don’t have one yet, but I hope to get one soon—I just have to choose the right design, which is not an easy task, since there are so many great options.

I also love their little clutches designed to look like an envelope. The white ‘Saluti da Roma’ clutch is on my wish list. I encourage you to take a look at their website. They ship to the U.S.A. and you have until December 15 to place an order that will arrive in time for Christmas.

For the person on your list who loves unique jewelry, I recommend Voodoo Jewels. Designed by Livia Lazzari, each piece is handmade by Roman goldsmiths and features semi precious stones in a creative composition of colors and shapes.

Beauty & Skincare

For the person on your list who appreciates olfactory pleasures, a bottle of eau de toilette or eau de parfum by Carthusia would make a lovely gift. Born in Capri, this brand now has shops all over Italy and exports to the U.S. as well. I’m obsessed with the gelsomini di Capri scent, which instantly conjures memories of Italian summers, when jasmine is in full bloom. In addition to perfume, Carthusia makes all kinds of soaps, body lotion, and shower gel in a variety of scents.

Another brand I love is Ortigia, which has the most beautiful packaging. In addition to perfume, soap, body lotion, and other skincare products, they also make home fragrances, candles, and beautiful lacquer trays.

Home Decor

There are lots of iconic brands like Fornasetti, Seletti, and Bitossi that are super chic and easy to find in the U.S., but for something unique and handmade, the best ceramicist is Enza Fasano. Based in the Puglian town of Grottaglie, which is known for artisanal pottery production, Enza comes from a family of ceramicists and makes the most beautiful dishes and decorative objects. Marco and I received a full set of paint splatter dishes as a wedding present from my sister and her husband and they make a beautiful addition to our table. If you’re not ready to give someone a full set of dishes, Enza also makes decorative objects like pomi (traditional Puglian symbols), vases, and lamps. You can order directly from her or from Giardini di Sole in Boston, which sells her ceramics.

Food & Drink

Nothing says Christmas in Italy like panettone. Unfortunately for my U.S.-based readers, my favorite panettone only ships in Italy, but I’m going to recommend it anyway in case any of my Italy-based readers want in on the secret.

Pepe Mastro Dolciere is probably the best pasticceria I’ve come across in Italy. Marco and I will take any excuse we can to go there, and it’s rather far off the beaten path in a random little town near Salerno. Literally everything there tastes incredible, but the panettone in particular is the best I’ve ever had. Last year we got the pistachio panettone, which was studded with candied pistachios, coated in a sort of pistachio icing and came with a jar of nutella-esque pistachio spread. It was incredible.

For my U.S.-based readers, I recommend the panettone by Olivieri 1882, which has won many awards. This family-run bakery has been in business for 140 years. Their artisanal panettone is baked in Italy and shipped to the U.S. in 48 hours or less. You can also find them at Eataly.

A couple of years ago, I actually went to Eataly here in Rome and bought a bunch of gourmet products to send to my parents and sister in the U.S., but I think you can get a lot of the same products at Eataly’s U.S. locations. For example, this pistachio pesto is fabulous as a pasta sauce and this brand also makes a sweet pistachio spread. (Can you tell that I’m a bit pistachio obsessed?) Eataly also sells some products by Tartufi Morra, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago in my Piedmont guide. And of course they have premium pastas by brands like Afeltri and Benedetto Cavalieri. If you’d rather leave the curation to the experts, Eataly has a whole bunch of gift baskets ranging from just under $100 to $500.

Experiences

For your friend or family member who’s planning a trip to Rome, nothing compares to giving them an unforgettable Vespa tour of the city with Scooteroma. I have personally done four of their tours and all the friends I’ve sent on their Vespa tours have raved about them. Just send an email to hello@scooteroma.com and tell them you’d like to gift a tour.

Want more suggestions? Send me an email or leave a comment below! I’m happy to suggest something tailored to you.