As part of the Italy blogging round table about gifts, I offer a look at gift giving in Italy in the past and how we can recapture the spirit of "olde Italy" today.
Take a walk down memory lane with this, my first article published on the English language press in Italy, for which I received 15,000 lire, a princely sum in those days.
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Useful, practical gifts are happily received and many shops in Rome and other cities are promoting this type of holiday gift-giving by issuing gift certificates.
Speaking of food...what better gift than a few litres of this year's extra virgin biological olive oil from one of the small, independent producers or cooperatives in the Vetralla area.
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| Lighting of the Christmas tree |
This year several stands are selling another speciality of the area : chocolate in its many shapes and forms
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| delicious chocolates made in Vetralla |
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| liqueurs include limoncello |
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| Antica Latteria production |
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| plants and handicrafts, Il Cerchio |
Ask your friends who produce olive oil if they have any new oil for sale.
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| silverware from the past |
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| vintage coffee makers and potato mashers |
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| angels for Christmas |
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| Who remembers using these ink pens? I do... |
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| bell tower of San Silvestro,Rome |
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| waiting for passengers in Piazza di Spagna |
Taking a stroll to Piazza S. Silvestro I learned that the huge Remainders bookshop closed about six months ago.
Thankfully the Anglo-American bookshop is nearby on Via della Vite and still flourishing.
Besides the usual books in English about Rome, they carry Etruria Editions latest publications.
To re-live the atmosphere of vintage Christmas shopping stroll through the centro storico and enjoy the Christmas lights and crowds.
The large malls and shopping centers are to be avoided and preference given to independent, local shops.
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| Spanish Steps-high profile shopping area |
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| angel via del Babuino |
Budget antiques can still be found in Vignanello near Viterbo where country auctions draw dealers and collectors from all over central Italy.
The specialists source antique furniture and art objects here then resell them in their High Street antiques shops.
You can check the catalogue online to see if there is anything that interests you or special people on your gift list.
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| general view Eurantico |
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| Murano glass |
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| kitsch ceramics |
Remember that old saying --- one (wo)man's junk is another's treasure? Next door to the auction center is a non-descript doorway leading into a series of tiny rooms filled with shelves and boxes of old books, magazines and knick knacks.
If you have time to browse and don't mind getting your hands dirty you might find a gem...maybe one that will make someone very happy at Christmas.
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| books at bargain prices . |
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| Irish guidebook 1953 - 2 euro Mussolini glass 1940 - 30 euro |
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Mario among his books and knick knacks P.S. I came back with 4 books (spending 8 euro in all), including a perfect first edition of "A Time in Rome" by E.Bowen |
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ReplyDeleteGrazie, un servizio stupendo!!!
ReplyDeleteVincenzo
(owners of Eurantico auction house)
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How right you are Mary Jane to suggest that cooking classes make a wonderful Christmas gift!
ReplyDeleteFlavor of Italy's cooking classes are completely hands on and we prepare a great variety of dishes. We decide on what to make along with the client's input. Everything we prepare uses fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. Our cooking school is reachable by Rome's public transportation system.
For those who haven't booked elsewhere, we also have a bed and breakfast, and 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, which are spacious and charming. We have a lovely pool, a wood-burning pizza oven and fabulous views of rolling hills, reminiscent of Tuscany. At the same time, the Vatican can be seen from our property and all of Rome's marvelous sites are at your fingertips to visit each day should you choose to leave the peace and beauty of Flavor of Italy during the day.
We suggest that our guests rent a car to get around and fully explore all that the Lazio region has to offer.
(www.flavorofitaly.com)
To think I still use those items that are considered vintage. The Napolitana coffee maker and the potato mashers (more a potato ricer) are my favourite items in the kitchen.
ReplyDelete