Are you going to Venice and want to stock up on some souvenirs? We’ve got just the guide for you. We’ll go over the best little ways to preserve the memory of your holidays today.
Venetian masks
The mask is an important symbol in Venice and an item that you will likely never actually need. This has never stopped anyone before and you can at least take them to bed. Where did the masks come from? The Carnival of Venice, an event in which masks are vital, dates back to the 13th century (1268). One theory for why the masks popped up was as a rebellious response to the rigidity of class hierarchies in medieval Venice. They were, admittedly, much simpler back then, as, today, you’ll find plenty of extravagant stuff.
Where can you buy a mask in Florence? We recommend the Ca Del Sol shop at S. Zaccaria, Fondamenta de l’Osmarin, 4964. You can expect the cheaper simpler masks to be at around €50 while the decorated ones may set you back €100+.
Cheeses
Cheeses from Venice may not be as well known as those from southern Italy, but they also have much of the same Alpine character as those from Lombardy. Which cheese types should you try in Venice? We’d certainly recommend Asiago Pressato and Asiago d’Allevo, produced for more than a thousand years. There’s also Ubriaco from Treviso, Monte Veronese from Verona and Piave from Belluno nearby.
If you’d like to try the local cheeses, you may want to find a restaurant which offers a plate for tasting. This way, you can try all of them at once and figure out which ones you’ll want to buy before heading back home. You can pretty much buy all of the types in every grocery shop.
Cookies, Bussolai, Pan del Doge
Though these may not last too long, we’d highly recommend checking out the local Venetian pastries too! For instance, Bussola are Venetian butter cookies often shaped like an S. Meanwhile, Pan del Doge are these huge pastries you can see above with nuts, usually chocolate or pistachio-flavoured. They take their name from the title of the ruler of Venice, the Doge. If you’re trying Pan del Doge, try it with Passito or Moscato wine!
Murano glass
The second most popular souvenir from Venice is certainly the Murano glass – distinctive, colourful, varied. You’ll find many shops with various souvenirs from Murano glass in the old town – tableware, frames, clocks, figurines. Glass manufacturers had to move to Murano in 1291, after which it became the glass centre for Europe. Given the very wide variety of products, prices range from €10 to a few thousand. A typical cup, though, will cost about €10-20.
Of course, there’s the issue of bringing these home unharmed. Take plenty of bubble wrap with you and ask the cashier to pack it carefully.
Where should you buy Murano glass? Preferably on the island of Murano at 1, Calle S. Cipriano, 48, 30141 Venezia at Murano Art Glass LTD. This is hardly your only option, as there are plenty of Murano glass shops all over Venice – just make sure it’s a real one.
Burano lace
We already spoke warmly about lace once before in an article about shopping in Cyprus. You can buy plenty of Burano lace products on the island of Burano as well as in the centre of Venice. The tradition has been known since the 1500s, thanks to Dogaressa Morosina Morosini, who established a lace-making workshop with 130 lacemakers. You can read more about the history of Burano lace here.
There is also a lovely legend associated with it – a sailor gave a water plant called trina delle sirene (mermaid’s lace) to a girl whom he loved. The girl was so enchanted by the gift that she reproduced the shape of the plant using a thread and so came to be the Burano lace.
What lace products can you buy in Venice? There’s plenty to choose from: tablecloths, umbrellas, fans, handkerchiefs, wedding veils and much more. Prices also have a very wide range, as you can buy a simple small lace for €5-10 or something very, very intricate for about a thousand euros. We recommend you check out the Martina Vidal shop at Via San Mauro, 309.
Bellini cocktail
The Bellini is a distinctive spirit from Venice, created between 1934-1948. It combines prosecco, peach puree and juice. Bellini owes its name to the colour of the cocktail similar to the saint’s toga from a painting by Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini. It is served chilled in champagne glasses. It costs about €6 for a 0.7 litre bottle. You can get a Bellini cocktail in every major grocery shop and in liquor and wine shops.
Door knobs and handles
Okay, you’re probably not going to Venice for a doorknob. But Venetians are known for producing special doorknobs and handles, especially ones decorated with the head of a Venetian lion. If you happen to be planning a renovation and you want to install something special on your gate, then it’s a cost of about €40.
Truth be told, we’re not actually expecting you to want a crocodile on your handle, but we couldn’t not include the fact that Venetians are selling crocodile handles. This knowledge had to go somewhere, ok?
Bigoli Pasta
And not the typical pre-packaged kind from the supermarket you can get anywhere but actual local stuff. The most popular pasta from Venice would be Bigoli. The main feature of this pasta is its roughness which allows it to better retain sauces and spices. It’s worth buying a couple of bags when going to Venice, as they’re not all that expensive.
Grappa
Grappa is a typically Venetian beverage and a protected product in the EU. It’s a strong grape-based brandy (35-60%), often served as a digestivo after dinner. It’s made of leftovers from wine production. If you want to know if grappa is of good quality, spill a few drops of it on your hand and spread it around. The alcohol should evaporate if it’s good and only the grape aroma should remain on your hands.
Books and Venetian paper
You can also visit the local bookshops in Venice! There are many charming locations all over the city, attractions in their own right. The most popular bookshop is the Libreria Acqua Alta, located at Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b. You’ll find loads of various books, a staircase made of books and a shelf made of a gondola.
Venice is also known for its stationery, same as Florence, so you can also get wrapping paper or any other stationery product of the highest quality locally.
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