9 Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home from Rome

Nothing conjures the city of Rome like the smell of espresso, and you can easily recreate the aroma of the city’s countless coffee bars at home with artisan roasted cicchi (whole coffee beans) or maccinato (ground coffee beans) from landmark cafés such as Sant’Eustachio or Tazza d’Oro, both near the Pantheon.

If you have an espresso maker at home, you’re good to go. Otherwise, pick up an authentic moka stovetop espresso pot from one of the city’s Bialetti shops—the tricolor model, based on the Italian flag, is one of the most charming gifts from Rome.

Insider tip: Stock up on extra rubber gaskets for your moka when you buy your pot because they need to be replaced regularly and can be hard to find outside of Italy.

Romans are known for their impeccable sense of style, so it's worth it to purchase a few new pieces while in the capital city. Fashionistas who follow famous designer brands can comb the flagship stores of labels including Gucci, Armani, and Prada near Piazza di Spagna for luxury souvenir shopping in Rome. Otherwise, lovers of unique vintage and underground looks will find one-of-a-kind treasures in the Monti neighborhood boutiques. Other top areas in Rome for shopping include Via del Corso—Rome’s main shopping thoroughfare—and La Rinascente, a multi-level high-end department store with a trendy rooftop eatery just steps from the Trevi Fountain.

Ancient mosaics still decorate Roman ruins and Byzantine churches across the city. After admiring treasures in historic sites such as the Baths of Caracalla and the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, head to one of the city’s ateliers to choose handmade souvenirs from Rome.

Studio Cassio, Mosaici Artistici Fabio Bordi, and La Grotta Dipinta—all set in the Historic Center of Rome—sell handmade mosaics and offer workshops so you can learn how to create mosaics yourself. Creart Roma nearby is an artisan ceramic shop that also sells replica Roman mosaic tiles depicting crowd-pleasers, such as cave canum (beware of the dog, in Latin) and the astrological signs.

Insider tip: Italy carefully controls the export of ancient artifacts. Keep your receipt when purchasing replica mosaics—or any other Roman-inspired souvenir—to prove to customs agents that your piece is not a pilfered archaeological treasure.

Rome is home to two beloved A-League calcio (soccer) teams: SS Lazio and AS Roma. Both have dedicated shops in Rome that stock official jerseys and other branded gear, accessories, collectibles, and memorabilia that will make any sports fan cheer. Stock up on white-and-azure souvenirs at the Lazio shops near the Spanish Steps and St. Peter’s Square, or yellow-and-red fan gear at the rival Roma shops near Campo de’ Fiori, the Trevi Fountain, and Via del Corso.

Insider tip: AS Roma has a team store at Rome Fiumicino Airport for last-minute souvenir shopping before catching your flight home.

Food and wine top the list of must-buy souvenirs in Rome, so fill your suitcase with delicacies such as Pecorino Romano (the sharp, aged cheese used in Rome’s iconic pasta dishes), olive oil produced in the outlying Sabina hills, and crisp white wines from the Castelli Romani vineyards just south of the city. Seek out the city’s landmark food shops—Salumeria Volpetti in Testaccio is a local favorite—for a vast selection of high-quality products. Just remember that meat, soft cheeses, and fresh produce cannot be imported into most countries—opt for aged cheeses, olive oil, wine, chocolate, dried pasta, coffee, and canned treats to take home.

Pop into Gammarelli, a tiny ecclesiastical shop not far from the Pantheon that has been the exclusive tailor to the pope for more than two centuries. Now run by the sixth generation of the Gammarelli family, this sartoria stocks everything from simple skull caps to ornate chasubles. Skip past the religious vestments and head straight to the cardinal-red and bishop-purple socks—the very ones that popes going all the way back to Pius IX have worn. Don’t be shy; a steady stream of customers comes through daily to purchase this whimsical memento of the Eternal City, so the staff will know what you’re looking for.

Original art is one of the best souvenirs from Rome, a daily reminder of your stay in the city hanging in a place of honor in your home. Most of the city’s museums have a small gift shop selling posters of their masterpieces, of course, but you can also opt for art photography, lithographs, and watercolor scenes of the cityscape by artists working out of studios across Rome. For a crafty (and sometimes cheeky) handmade piece, stop by La Bottega del Marmoraro. This tiny shop is famous for its small marble tiles engraved with witty sayings in Roman dialect.

Insider tip: Street artists hawk their wares in Piazza Navona most evenings, and you can opt for a print of an original watercolor or oil painting for a unique artwork that won’t break the bank.

A perfume shop may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering where to buy souvenirs in Rome. The city has been crafting unique fragrances since the time of the ancient Romans, however, and a handful of profumieri continue the tradition today. Choose a Rome-inspired perfume at local ateliers such as Essenzialmente Laura and Profumum, or discover a vast array of boutique Italian perfume brands at specialty shops including HB Roma and Olfattorio. Both shops carry hundreds of scents by tiny producers that are a challenge to find outside of Italy, meaning you'll go home with a unique signature scent.

Make your memories of Rome last a lifetime by keeping a travel journal while visiting the Eternal City. There are old-school stationary shops across the historic center that sell beautiful leather or marbled paper–covered journals, pens of every type imaginable, and other writing supplies that are perfect for recording your travels or keeping as a gift for a writer back home. Head to the historic Antica Cartotecnica for notebooks and pens, and add a dash of color with the art supplies at Ditta Poggi.