Genoa is famous for its food, beautiful views and for giving birth to Christopher Columbus. If you’re thinking of visiting it yourself, you may want to know what you can buy there. Today, we’ll go over what souvenirs and gifts you can find in Genoa. Let’s take a look!
Shopping in Genoa
What can you buy in Genoa?
Given that Genoa is food first and foremost, most of our gift ideas today will be edible! Ligurian cuisine is some of the finest in Italy and you can find plenty of it in Genoa. If you’re travelling to Genoa by plane, remember that the maximum bottle size for hand luggage is merely 100 ml. If you want to bring back some proper bottles of wine or olive oil, you’ll need to stuff it in the checked luggage. Make sure to take some bubble wrap to be on the safe side.
Pesto Genovese
Local pesto
Pesto is a mixture of basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, salt and Lugirian olive oil. And you can find some of the best pesto right here, in Genoa. It’s traditionally served with trenette pasta. A jar will typically cost you from €2 to €6.
Ligurian olive oil
The best olive oil in Italy?
Another exceptional product from the area of Genoa, also used in pesto genovese. It’s our personal favourite olive oil from all of Italy! Local varieties are typically produced from Taggiasca olives, with olive groves typically situated in the mountains on special little terraces near the sea. A bottle will cost you around €5-7.
Romeo Viganotti chocolates
Artisan chocolates from Genoa
Genoa is also home to a historic chocolate factory of Romeo Viganotti, producing chocolate since 1866. The brand still uses old moulds and machinery to produce their goods. You can find plenty of chocolate bars, pralines and more: check out the official site of Romeo Viganotti to get a taste!
Pietro Romanengo sweets
1780’ confectionery in Genoa
Romanengo is a traditional confectionery in Genoa, operating since 1780. It offers very top shelf posh products and gift boxes and it’s certainly reflected in its prices – a small pack of chocolates will set you back around €60. Romanengo has had such esteemed visitors as Giuseppe Verdi, Duke Umberto I and the Duchess of Parma.
You can get a sense of Romanengo on its official site here.
Sciroppo di Rose
Rose syrup
Genoa has also produced syrup from rose petals since ancient times – it’s still one of the local staples, with families making their own at home. After all, all you need is rose petals, sugar, lemon and, of course, water. It’s great for desserts or just as a refreshing addition to drinks. You can find it practically anywhere in Genoa.
Genovese wine
Rossese and Vermentino
We obviously have to include wine here too – we recommend Ka Mancine Beragna Rossese di Dolceacqua, a delicate red wine from Soldano, traditionally served chilled to 12°C. The price is around €15 per bottle. Another recommendation is the Punta Crena Vigneto Isasco Vermentino Riviera Ligure di Ponente, a white wine from Liguria, delicate, dry with a fruity and fresh taste and aroma. The price is around €20.
Chinotto orange products
Bitter oranges
Chinottos grow in the Liguria region and are very widely used. They’re basically bitter oranges, often used in a popular drink also called chinotto. You may also find perfumes which use chinottos. You can either buy products with them or the oranges themselves.
Columbus souvenirs
What to get as a gift from Genoa?
Given that Columbus was from Genoa (you can even find his house in the city centre!), you can find plenty of souvenirs centred around him and his Santa Maria. Bottled ships, books, magnets and more, typically starting as low as €1.
Trenette pasta
Pesto pasta
A local pasta from Genoa, you can find it packaged in many local shops. It’s traditionally served with pesto genovese as trenette al pesto. It’s similar to linguine in form and, if you have the pesto and not the pasta, you can replace the trenette with linguine. A pack costs merely €1.
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