Buongiorno!
This post is a mini and incomplete guide to finding high-quality souvenirs in Rome – a challenge, I know, but not impossible!
When I travel, I often face the same dilemma: where to find authentic, meaningful souvenirs. I’m done with tacky, throwaway trinkets that gather dust. I’d rather spend my travel budget on fewer, well-made objects – something crafted locally, something that lasts. Because yes, less is more. That’s a lesson I learned after tossing yet another skimpy, useless object into the bin.
So I thought you, my dear Italophiles, deserved a proper guide to Rome’s best non-touristy souvenir shops – the ones I love, where you can find artisan-made Italian gifts that actually mean something.
What Makes a Souvenir High-Quality
For me – and maybe for you too – a souvenir worth the price, the luggage space, and the energy… must be authentic, beautiful, and truly made in Italy. These aren’t the only criteria for quality, of course, but they’re a good start.
Then comes the moment of connection: touching something velvety or silky, discovering an aesthetic you don’t see every day, imagining the face of a friend receiving an authentic Italian gift from your hands. A real souvenir stirs something.
And maybe you chat with the maker. Maybe you feel like you’re part of the same tribe – the ones who care. Maybe it leaves you with a story to tell. That’s the kind of experience we’re after.
Where to Buy the Best Souvenirs in Rome
The places I list here are places I actually shop. So the list is short – but real. I hope you’ll enjoy the authenticity.
Artisanal Crafts & Home Goods
One day while wandering through the Prati neighborhood, I stumbled upon Gigli Laboratorio Orafo – Via degli Scipioni, 42. Its window was refreshingly unpretentious, and it featured bronze statuettes that immediately caught my eye — they reminded me of the Etruscan art I was researching at the time. Their style felt both familiar and unique, echoing ancient forms without being obvious copies. After chatting with the owner, I learned they’re made in Tarquinia, a town near Rome with deep Etruscan roots.
Alongside these pieces, you’ll find jewelry crafted with vintage stones and found objects, many of them truly one-of-a-kind. This is exactly the kind of artisanal souvenir from Rome that carries both history and heart.
Gourmet Edible Souvenirs
Looking for truffle oil, aged balsamic vinegar, artisanal pasta, or traditional Roman biscotti? Head to Castroni. It’s a Roman institution, and while there are several locations around the city, the flagship store – with its historic coffee roastery – is at Via Cola di Rienzo 196/198 in Prati.
Perfect for Italian food souvenirs that are both delicious and TSA-safe.
You might also want to stop by Babington’s Tea Room in Piazza di Spagna. Yes, it’s English — but it’s been beautifully Italianized over the decades. They offer seven signature tea blends dedicated to Rome, each one inspired by the city’s spirit. Elegant, gift-worthy, and surprisingly Roman.
Jewelry & Fashion
Most of my jewelry comes from Sancesario – Via dei Coronari, 223 – a family-owned boutique crafting bijoux inspired by Renaissance jewelry. Handcrafted, bold, and beautiful.
But my Colosseum-shaped ring (yes!) was made by Licciardello Gioielli – Via dei Serpenti, 5 – and it’s a piece I never take off.
Speaking of memory-laced places: I remember my mom dragging me into Battistoni – Via dei Condotti, 61/A – in search of the perfect tie for my dad. I’d pretend to help choose one, but she always had her own plan. What stayed with me most wasn’t the silk – it was the perfume.
Yes, Battistoni has its own historic fragrance, and it still lingers in the air of the boutique. Refined, unmistakable, and deeply Roman, it makes for a truly unique souvenir from the Eternal City.
And since we’re talking about scent…
Try PROFVMVM – Via Ripetta, 248 – a family-run perfume atelier in Rome with a cult following. Start with their fragrances inspired by the Eternal City herself.
Books & Paper Goods
A dear friend of mine manages some of Rome’s most beautiful museum bookshops, and she’s a rare kind of curator — the kind who scours the peninsula in search of local, handcrafted pieces with real soul. The result? Award-winning shops that are also treasure troves for high-quality paper goods and unique gifts.
You can stop by without a ticket at places like the Ara Pacis, Musei Capitolini, Museo di Roma, and the recently reopened Mausoleo di Augusto. And — humble moment — you’ll also find my postcards there, tucked among the handmade notebooks, prints, and illustrated books.
They’re little pieces of my Rome — inspired by what the city gives me, and made with care for those who want to carry a piece of it home.
If one gets married in Rome, the dream is to have the invitations printed by Pneider – Via del Leoncino, 25. Anything papery and of superior quality is their specialty.
Not Just Souvenirs, but Memories
As I always say, this is not Rome in the strictest – and often sterile – touristy way. This is my Rome. It’s inspiration, not commandment. A starting point, not a definitive list.
Because souvenirs, I believe, are memories you take home. They should reflect you, and the way you experienced the city. They don’t have to be perfect or precious. They can be the tackiest, made-elsewhere little something — as long as it reminds you of a special moment, a laugh, a feeling. That’s what gives it value.
It’s the human experience that counts. And as the neo-humanist I like to think I am, I beg you: make each one of your moments in Rome your moment. Own it. Fill it with something real.
And if you’re looking for a place to begin — a bit of inspiration for your time in the city, or a way to bring a touch of its magic into your home (and kitchen) — you can find it in my two Simposio cookbooks, dedicated entirely to la mia Roma:
Simposio’s Rome – here on Amazon
Everyday rituals, historical breadcrumbs, and traditional recipes.
Simposio’s Papal Rome – here on Amazon
A look at Rome – and Roman kitchens – from a totally new perspective.
Because sometimes, the best souvenir is something you can cook.
