You know who we’re talking about. Maybe they tote an impractical, tiny leather backpack with a fleur de lis stamped on it, name drop the restaurant on Borgo Pinti they frequented while studying abroad in Florence, or have a lot to say about the correct espresso-to-milk ratio of a cortado. There's no questioning it: The traveler who checks these boxes is dreaming of visiting Italy. Luckily, this friend is damn easy to shop for, considering the way Italian craftsmanship touches nearly every single cultural realm—food, wine, literature, film, and fashion included.
This researched list has something for every kind of Italy lover, from Milanese Christmas cake to wooden risotto spoons. Not only on this list do we have beautiful Italian ingredients, but we also have an online interior design class by way of Florence, a boat ride around the Amalfi Coast, one-of-a-kind glass Christmas ornaments made in Milan, and an Italy-made pasta maker for rainy days.
Here are 29 beautiful Italian gifts for anyone who's ever fallen in love with the country—yourself included.
There are few dishes that epitomize the spirit of Italy like a steaming bowl of pasta. And a high-quality machine for making such pasta—the fresh kind—is a thoughtful gift for the friend who lives for weekend cooking projects—especially those who get cold winters and are in need of post-holidays indoor activities. The Imperia Pasta Maker Machine comes tested and recommended by our friends at Epicurious, and is made in Italy. It’s made of shiny, good-looking stainless steel and is a manual model, operating via a hand crank with a wood grip. Whether you prefer tagliatelle or tortellini, the joy of working with fresh pasta dough is a wonder.
Chopping and mincing vegetables is one of the most tedious cooking prep tasks—but, naturally, the Italians have an answer to that in the mezzaluna (which translates to half-moon in their language). Rocking a sharp, heavy, curved blade back and forth over carrots, celery, garlic, or onions does the job quickly and easily. It's particularly helpful when making a soffrito, an Italian cooking base for soups, braises, and sauces. This one is made in Italy of stainless steel and has grippable wooden handles.
Every fridge has a crumbly tub of pre-grated Parmesan cheese—but nonnas looking down from heaven are gasping, “Dio mio!” at the sight of those bland spaghetti strands. The fix? Whipping out a microplane and a hunk of parmigiano-reggiano, stat. The Microplane Classic Series zester does the job as well as any. With its tiny but fierce jagged teeth, it smoothly and effortlessly transforms any hard cheese into what looks like a fluffy pile of fresh-fallen snow and what tastes like salty, sharp, melt-in-your-mouth
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It’s believed that the Norwegians invented modern skiing as we know it, and the first destination ski resort was Switzerland’s St. Moritz around 1864—more than half a century before the oldest operating mountain in the U.S. opened. It was the ski loving but mountain-challenged British that popularized the very notion of the ski vacation, traveling to the Alps for food, fun and skiing.
With the new year just around the corner, these new hotels should be on the travel radar. For some, bucket list travel may be the best holiday present of all. Others enjoy the anticipation of planning the trip together, especially if you can redeem hard-earned loyalty points to make the trip more affordable. A handful will be lucky enough to win a free vacation trip, but for everyone else, these are some of the newest hotels worth exploring in 2024.
Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list is no easy feat. Maybe you're shopping for the friend who has everything already or someone you don't know that well—you're stumped on what to buy, but still want their gift to be thoughtful and practical. Or, maybe you've accidentally waited too long to finish up your holiday shopping and need a gift with zero shipping time required. In any case, a gift card is a great idea for travelers. We put together a list of the very best gift cards for travelers, with options for book worms, outdoor enthusiasts, and beauty gurus included. From suitcases to skincare to entire vacation rentals, you can put your gift to good use and rest easy knowing your giftee got exactly what they wanted: something they picked out themselves. Plus, some have physical card options, if sending an email isn't the glamorous gift-giving experience you imagined.
Often seen merely as a stepping stone to the stunning Italian islands accessible via its bustling port, Naples is seldom considered a destination in itself. Contrary to this negative portrayal, Naples is a lively, culture-rich city that deserves more recognition. As the birthplace of pizza, it commands respect on culinary grounds alone. Moreover, it’s home to a wealth of significant archaeological treasures, and its unpolished streets have a beauty and authenticity that’s been washed away in other large European cities. It’s also home to a handful of excellent luxury boutique hotels offering outstanding Italian hospitality and beautiful accommodations. Here are the top hotels in Naples, Italy for a weekend getaway or extended vacation in city and around the city.
I recently put caviar on an extra-toasty Cheez-It, and I’m obsessed. I took my inspiration from Alexis Cervasio, proprietor at hip Boston market EBO & Co. and proponent of putting caviar on everything,
What do you get when you cross two alums of the fine dining pantheon The Modern with the finest Italian seafood, creative cocktails and deep and esoteric wine list all in a gorgeously chic Soho setting? Say hello to Principe, which is fast becoming everyone's new favorite downtown destination.
“Casa Maria Luigia is a home and a hotel…imaginary and real,” writes Lara Gilmore in Slow Food, Fast Cars, the book she co-authored with chef Massimo Bottura, her partner in life and fine dining. Together, they’ve created such restaurants as the three-Michelin-star destination Osteria Francescana. But Gilmore began her career writing about art, and Slow Food, Fast Cars: Casa Maria Luigia - Stories and Recipes (out from Phaidon on December 6) marries a number of genres, from cookbook to essay collection to exhibition catalog and beyond.
In a groundbreaking triumph, Haute Retreats, renowned for curating unparalleled luxury travel experiences, has been crowned the winner of the Best Luxury Villa Rental and Accommodation Service in Europe for the year 2023 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards.
A tower in the Italian city of Bologna that is less known than its Pisa counterpart - but leans equally as much - has been sealed off, with authorities saying it’s at high risk of collapse.