Giada's Favorite Souvenir From Rome

Giada's favorite souvenir from Rome is unique, custom made, and fits in your suitcase!

With souvenir stores filled to the brim with dried pasta and miniature olive oils, it can be hard to find a truly unique gift to bring back from the Eternal City (not that we're ever mad about tourist pasta!) The thing is, Rome has tons of artisanal product makers who handmake authentic goods... you just have to know where to look!

 
Tucked away on the picturesque Via Margutta is a store that Giada always makes a point to visit: La Bottega del Marmoraro. As soon as you take a step inside, you'll feel transported to an older time: wall-to-wall marble slabs, books, prints and paintings with perhaps not a sign of uncovered wall in sight. It feels like a magical old workshop from a time long ago, and it's home to one of the coolest souvenirs you can grab in the city: customized marble signs.

 
While the shop already has a vast array of marble signs with Italian phrases and sayings carved in (see above!) you can get anything you want carved into a slab of any size. Depending on the shop owner's workload, he can get it done in a few minutes while you wait, or you may have to wait a few hours - hardly a chore when you're on a street as shoppable and lovely as Via Margutta! 

 
For a special gift, or a unique treasure to commemorate your trip with, we highly recommend heading to this neat little shop. It's a great reprieve from all of the actual "gift shops" aimed at tourists - and so much more charming. Once you visit and see for yourself, it won't take much guesswork as to why this is Giada's favorite souvenir from Rome!

 
Pro-tip: the sweet owner doesn't speak much English, so unless you have a personal translator on hand like we do when we travel with Giada, you'll want to write down what you want carved to ensure no mix-ups, or use this handy app!