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Vaso Nugget, Gaetano Pesce
Gaetano Pesce is an iconic Italian designer, architect, and artist known for his experimental approach to materials and bold, colorful creations that blur the line between art and design. His vases are proof in point, and a more accessible way to have a special art/design piece than, say, his Montanara sofa or UP5_6 armchair. You can find plenty on 1stDibs, like this green and pink one or this pink and orange one. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
Candles, Italy Segreta x Cereria Introna
We’re obsessed with the whimsical candles from Cereria Introna, a family-run workshop in Bari, Puglia–and we’ve got a new collection of them available on the Italy Segreta Shop just in time for the holidays. Take your pick from the mandarin, panettone, crostatina con crema e fragola, and zeppole–or order all of them for a tabletop cornucopia. –Italy Segreta Team
Bicchieri Hand-Embroidered Linen Cocktail Napkins, Taf Firenze
I’m obsessed with these adorable, scallop-edge linen cocktail napkins, hand embroidered by the artisans over at Taf Firenze. My favorite is the set with six different cocktails (it feels ~meta), though they’ve also got ones with dogs, golfers, and other tongue-in-cheek designs. –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
Silky Roses Placemat Set, Loretta Caponi
These ruffled and quilted placemats from Florentine family brand Loretta Caponi are a cottage core dream. I love the delicate floral pattern, but the alternatives are so beautiful it will be hard to pick just one! –Valentina Calò, Italy Segreta Operation & Business Development Manager
Decorative Pillows, Tappezzeria Petrarchi
Add a little piece of Florence to your bed or couch with these amazing handmade pillows, which come in all kinds of velvet shades, patterns, and designs featuring Florentine icons like the giglio and Basilica of Santo Spirito. –Sara Cagle, Florence-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Hemp Bed Sheets, Casa Parini
Casa Parini is a small Italian brand redefining luxury with its sustainable hemp bed linens–crafted from locally sourced hemp, hypoallergenic, and breathable. Perfect for the eco-conscious friend who doesn’t want to give up comfort and sophistication while treading lightly on the planet. –Betty Subrizi, Italy Segreta Graphic Designer
Hand-Stamped Linens, Antica Stamperia Marchi
Antica Stamperia Marchi’s linens are a vibe: hand-stamped, each piece is one-of-a-kind, crafted with their 1633 mangle. My favorite is a fruit-print tablecloth—no two are identical, and they even make custom sizes. I’m lucky enough to have inherited some from my grandma, and they take center stage, even in a modern setting. –Carlo Gibertini, Emilia Romagna-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Marble Design Pieces, Sfrido Estate
From shelves to small tables, this natural stone brand makes some seriously special pieces for the minimalist design lover. I particularly love the Shelf by Kuo Duo, with five different types of natural stone. –Betty Subrizi, Italy Segreta Graphic Designer
Prints, Lorenzo Romani
Lorenzo Romani is a mixed media artist, and though he also makes large, concrete works, I love his series of prints. He works with analogue and digital photography to identify those small empty spaces that surround us and to which we give no attention, resulting in a series of prints of a poetically suspended nature. DM him to order. –Giulia Grimaldi, Piedmont-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Scented Wax Tablets, Santa Maria Novella
These fragrance-infused wax tablets from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella (which, fun fact, is the oldest bottega storica in Italy) make the perfect gift for those who like a little everyday luxury. They work much like lavender sachets; throw them into any drawer or cabinet, or hang them in your closet like I do. My favorite–both aesthetically and scent-wise–is the Angeli di Firenze, with blue cornflower petals and chamomile flowers. –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
KITCHEN
Porta Pane, Uashmama
Made with Tuscan brand UASHMAMA’s signature material, “AGGO”—a washable paper designed with both sustainability and durability in mind–and organic linen, this charming, cottage-core bread basket is a shoe-in for your friends and family that actually kept up with sourdough baking. The drawstring closure at the top means it can double as both bread/pastry/cookie display and storage. (UASHMAMA is a treasure trove of other cute gifts; I also love the Wine Bag Carrying Tote, especially when given, or received, with a bottle inside.) –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
Artichoke-Printed Apron, Modoro
If you’re looking to support a small business, check out MODORO, by Bologna born and Zocca resident illustrator Cristina Cati. Her food-inspired designs are simply adorable, whether it’s an artichoke-printed apron or double-sided placemats with a menagerie of tomatoes. –Lindsay Hillenbrand, Italy Segreta Travel & Events Designer
These collectible handcrafted ceramic “Cloud Plates” are created by Italian design duo Ccontinua+Mamt (Chiara Caselli and Franceso Carrasso), based in Amsterdam. The plates, which depict a series ancient mystic references, Italian folklore, and universally symbolic motifs all hand-drawn by Francesco, are stocked at selected locations across the world including Galleria Mia, a home and interior design gallery in Rome; they have an online store and ship worldwide. –Alexia Petsinis, Milan-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Grottaglie Ceramics, Nicola Fasano
Having these colorful, splatter-painted, face-covered dishes in your kitchen will get you endless compliments and make lunchtime a lot more fun. –Sara Cagle, Florence-based Italy Segreta Contributor
BOOKS & MAGAZINES
Estate Italiana, Italy Segreta
We’re making coffee table mags a thing. Our 2024 collectible Estate Italiana–122 full color pages dedicated to those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer–makes the perfect present for anyone who’s got the wintertime blues. –Italy Segreta Team
Loro Piana: Master of Fibres, Assouline
Your next coffee table book obsession. In honor of Piedmontese designer brand Loro Piana’s 100th anniversary, this tome traces the journey of the fashion house from its origins as a wool trading company to the global brand it has become today, alongside stunning photography of the cashmere production and the hilly region Loro Piana calls home. The book is covered with Loro Piana’s Tela Sergio fabric, a blend of cotton and linen, and one of Sergio Loro Piana’s most cherished textiles. –Christian Layolle, New Business & Special Projects at Italy Segreta
I recently discovered Fabio Ponzio, a fantastic, underrated Italian photographer. His photo book East of Nowhere showcases his journey through Poland, depicting the country before and after the communist regime collapsed. If you are a street photography lover and are looking for a well-priced photo book, this is it. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
An A-Z of Pasta, Rachel Roddy
There are so many Italian cook books out there and probably half of them are about pasta–but the depth and focus in narrating Italy through 50 shapes of pasta, because–as the Rome-based Rachel Roddy says “only a genius or an idiot would try to concentrate all this into one book”–is quite beautiful. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
The Book of Dreams, Federico Fellini
Like the title, this book of illustrations by Federico Fellini is an absolute dream. Before you gasp at the price tag, consider that this is a real collectible, a work of art. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
FOOD
Olio Nuovo, Fattoria di Maiano
This farm just outside of Florence, near Fiesole, is one of my favorite day-trips outside of the city center. They produce all of their own vegetables, meat, and, most importantly, olive oil. The harvest from this year–bright green and perfectly spicy–makes a fantastic gift for any cook. (Their honey is great too!) –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
Pasta, Pasta Tirrena
This pasta from Tuscany is the best on the market–slow-dried at temperatures below 38°C for over 72 hours for a pasta that’s not only easily digestible but deeply flavorful. They’ve got 10 different shapes–so you can satisfy both the short and long pasta contigents–plus pretty packaging to boot. –Cesare Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder
Zabaione, Alberto Marchetti
If you know someone in the small, cultish group of people who are obsessed with zabaione, you’ll be glad to hear that the Torino gelato master Alberto Marchetti makes the dessert sauce by the jar. It’s just as artisanal as Marchetti’s gelato and comes in several varieties, such as traditional Marsala and Moscato d’Asti zabaione, in either 200-gram (7-ounce) jars or the adorable degustazione jars (40 grams/1.5 ounce) for mini tastes of each one. Be warned that this will be the only thing your gift recipient asks for every year after this one. –Lydia O’Brien, Rome-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Cioccolato di Modica, Sabadi
Chocolate is usually a good back-up gift for the old friend you forgot to shop for or the coworkers who expect something on their desk before vacation, but Modica chocolate is a whole other dimension of delicious that you should reserve for the people you really like. The Sicilian city of Modica is famous for chocolate-making because they still adhere to the traditional cold-processing method, in which the chocolate and sugar are never heated above 45 degrees Celsius, which results in a wonderfully crunchy, Pop-Rocks-esque texture and intensely aromatic flavor in every bite, since the sugar crystals do not dissolve and the cocoa beans’ unique taste characteristics are kept intact. Sabadi is one of the best producers in Modica, with its flagship shop in the shade of the Baroque Duomo, making traditionally flavored bars–like sea salt, peperoncino, cinnamon, and Sicilian arancia rossa–with organic ingredients from Fair Trade producers. You can find their chocolate at specialty food stores in the U.S., Canada, and London, but Sabadi also ships worldwide. It’s hard to go back to any other chocolate after this! –Lydia O’Brien, Rome-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Caper Products, La Nicchia
The Sicilian island of Pantelleria is known for its capers, and the family-run business La Nicchia has been farming and processing its own capers into amazing products for decades. My favorites are the caper powder—try it on deviled eggs, chocolate gelato (trust me), and anything you’d use flaky salt—and caper leaves in extra virgin olive oil, which make the most beautiful edible garnish. –Sara Cagle, Florence-based Italy Segreta Contributor
SPIRITS
Florentis Vin Santo Malt Cask, Winestillery
This is the first-ever artisanal whisky produced in Tuscany–aged in Vin Santo barrels for a delightfully surprising sweet flavor–and a great choice for those who take theirs on the rocks. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
5 Barrel Experience, Poli Distillery
This set comes with five “baby” size bottles of grappa, a digestivo that’s not for the faint of heart, from the 125-year-old Venetian distillery. You’ll never know grappa could have so many nuances. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
TEA & COFFEE
Camilla Herb Mugs, La Via del Tè
As a non-coffee drinker who lives in Italy (yes, I get a lot of shit for it), I seem to be constantly jumping through hoops to get my caffeine kick. This porcelain tea mug with a lid and a stainless steel infuser have solved it all for me: the infuser is deep enough for a proper infusion, and the lid helps keep the tea warm–and later serves as a convenient place to deposit said infuser. Pair it with a bag of tea from Florence’s La Via del Tè for a great combo gift. –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
Mokaflor Farm Box, Caffèlab
Coffee is deeply entrenched in Italian culture, but like all aspects of tradition, it is slowly but surely evolving! One of my favorite initiatives in the world of coffee is Mokaflor Farm—a project dedicated to traceability and fostering positive change within Italian coffee culture. The Mokaflor Farm Box–which includes blends, single origins, robusta, and arabica—is an ideal present for coffee lovers eager to discover a fresh, forward-thinking project from an innovative Italian roasting company. –Cesare Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder
Pulcina Moka, Alessi
You can seriously never go wrong with an Alessi moka as a gift. La Pulcina model, as well as the pricier La conica, just make your morning brew feel that much more elevated by Italian design. –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
CLOTHING
Italy Segreta T-Shirt, Italy Segreta
If there’s one thing you need to know about Italian fashion, it’s that simple is better. Our wardrobes are composed of a few classic pieces that effortlessly translate from a morning caffè al bar to a late-night Negroni in the piazza. One such piece is the Italy Segreta Tee, made of 100% organic, breathable, and soft cotton. Wear it over your bathing suit to the bagni in the summer, layer it under a wool coat and scarf in the winter, or pair it with jeans and friulane for aperitivo. –Italy Segreta Team
Ava Jacket, Dama Studio
I’m obsessed with the entire made-to-order collection from young, Bolzano-based designer Dagmar Gruber, but the Ava Jacket takes the cake. I wear it alone on a breezy summer’s evening or layered with a turtleneck on a cozy fall day. I also love the Zoccoli shoes, which are the coolest clogs you’ve ever seen; I’m putting a pair on my Christmas list. –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
Boxers, Italy Segreta
For the holiday season, we’ve got something super fico: boxers for you and your boo, thanks to a limited edition collaboration with Copenhagen-based sustainable clothing company Fichi. Whether you’re snuggling by the fire in a villa in Umbria, strolling barefoot along the Sicilian seaside, or putting on as many layers as you can before hitting the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo, these are your new staple boxers. –Italy Segreta Team
Modular Knitwear, By Way of People
These knitted sweaters, beanies, and halter tops by Polimoda alum Allison Aniskina are everything. The idea revolves around pieces with interchangeable and removable components that allow you to change according to the weather and wear the same pieces in one form or another year-round–particularly poignant considering the current speed of climate change. –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
Camicia Bianca, Angelo Lapi
Angelo Lapiccirella worked for 15 years in high fashion for a number of Italian and international brands. Then he chose to stop and give life to something that would really represent him. This is how ANGELO LAPI was born: a project in which his creativity is put at the disposal of something that distances itself from the dynamics of production and seeks to meet the times and needs of the world in which we live, with great attention to the ecological responsibility of his choices, and with a unique style. This is a white shirt like you’ve never seen it before. For purchases, contact him on Instagram. –Giulia Grimaldi, Piedmont-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Mary Jane Friulane, Piedaterre
The former gondoliers’ shoes known as friulane have been coming in hot on the fashion scene in recent years, and I’m as much a fan as the likes of Tom Ford, Kate Moss, and George Clooney. I opt, however, for the cute-as-can-be Mary Jane style; these velvet slippers pair perfectly with an easy dress in the summer, jeans in the fall, and, come Halloween, a Dorothy costume. –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
ACCESSORIES
Estate Italiana Tote Bag, Italy Segreta
I know I’m partial, but our Estate Italiana Tote Bag might just be my favorite purchase of 2024. Even if you have an overwhelming number of tote bags, this one is thick and sturdy, with enough space to pack for an overnight work trip to Venice, to carry my Sant’Ambrogio market haul, or to bring a towel and book to the beach. Plus, whenever I carry it outside of Italy, I love that Italians always come to ask me where it’s from. –Nancy Butler, Italy Segreta Junior Editor
Silk Scrunchie, Italy Segreta x Michela Pesenti
These silk twill scrunchies, designed exclusively for Italy Segreta by Bergamo-based designer Michela Pesenti, feature a geometric print available in two vibrant color combos. Tried and tested by our all-female team, they held up our hair throughout long, busy days of bringing you your favorite Italy content. Plus, the silk prevents breakage, ponytail kinks, and tangles, and helps keep your locks smooth and shiny. –Italy Segreta Team
Garden Hat, Rovi Lucca
This pandemic-born brand based in Lucca takes inspiration from all the beautiful botanical gardens the city is surrounded by; they make just a few pieces, all extremely stylish but also practical. You could wear it to garden, or just to be fashionable while out and about. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
Il Tortellino Key Chain, La Vacchetta Grassa
A leather, tortellino-shaped keychain… need I say more?! –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
Leather Dog Leash, Old Hide Romanelli Firenze
The most elegant leather dog leash I’ve ever found, available in two tones: a darker and a lighter option. I highly recommend either visiting their store on Via Tornabuoni while in Florence or contacting them via phone to place an order, as their website is currently under construction. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
Hat, Atelier Nuri
Made from recycled fabrics and stock materials, Atelier Nuri’s hats are colourful and lively, always with a touch of originality that makes them special–plus they’re customizable. Find the young Piedmont-based designer in markets around the area, or DM for orders. –Giulia Grimaldi, Piedmont-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Leather Bag, Manifattura Essentia
Carlotta is an artisan who has followed her passion for creating beautiful things to various parts of the world. Arriving in Pistoia, she first worked in the world of hat making and then found the perfect recipe: handcrafting leather, with which she creates simple, practical, yet extremely stylish models. She uses leftover leather from large productions or defective leather, which makes each of her bags not only unique but more environmentally friendly, limiting demand for new materials. –Giulia Grimaldi, Piedmont-based Italy Segreta Contributor
Silk Foulard, E. Marinella
These handcrafted, silk scarves are perfect for a gift that carries a piece of Neapolitan tradition and sophistication. They come in a huge range of styles, from psychedelic florals to multi-colored, geometric patterns. –Clarissa Grassellini, Italy Segreta Finance Manager
JEWELRY
Tortellini Charm, Etoile
If you can’t give an actual tortellino to your food-obsessed friends (due to import laws and all that), this is the next best thing. These tiny gold or silver tortellini from Etoile Jewelry store in Modena are as cute as can be, perfect in both earring and necklace form. –Nancy Butler, Italy Segreta Junior Editor
Anello Moneta Ring, Alcozer Bijoux
I love gifting unique jewellery that no one else will have. Alcozer uses ancient coins to create these incredible rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Not ideal for the minimalist family member or friend, but the made-in-Florence brand also offers other fun and simpler designs. –Lindsay Hillenbrand, Italy Segreta Travel & Events Designer
Vintage Jewelry, Fabio Piccioni (Rome)
Fabio Piccioni, nestled amidst the ivy-choked streets of Rome’s Monti district, is a veritable haven for the vintage jewelry lover. This little shop, which has been open almost 30 years, teeters with bauble-bright goods; busts sag under great ropes of beads, tiaras litter weathered bookshelves, earrings clink laughter from the heaving walls. Here, you will not find it hard to stumble across a gift for the magpies in your life–yet even if you do depart empty handed, something magic remains about basking in this shop’s amber warmth on a winter evening, and letting it spirit you into a time gone by. –Clementine Lussiana, UK-based Italy Segreta Contributor
“Not a Knot” Earrings, Italy Segreta x SO-LE Studio
Italians are well-versed in the waste-not-want-not philosophy. Here’s proof: these lightweight, chic earrings from SO-LE Studio, by Maria Sole Ferragamo, in Milan. Formed by master Tuscan craftsmen, these statement pieces are made from pieces of Italian leather leftover from coat and bag production that would otherwise go to waste. –Italy Segreta Team
BEAUTY
Sel Vanille Perfume, Maison Tahité
This sustainable brand celebrates the following raw materials in three collections of perfumes: Vanilla, Cocoa, and Coffee. Being a vanilla girl at heart, I highly recommend their Vanillade or Sel Vanille scent. Another favourite from the coffee collection is their I Ristretto perfume. Fun side fact: inside each perfume package, you’ll find a plantable card. –Lindsay Hillenbrand, Italy Segreta Travel & Events Designer
Hand Soap and Cream, Idea Toscana
This natural cosmetics company produces everything in Tuscany, and I just love the hand soap and cream–they feel amazing, smell amazing, and are enriched with “Toscano IGP” Extra Virgin Olive Oil. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
The Cure, Seed to Skin
This luxe beauty brand makes all their products on a farm on the Borgo Santo Pietro property, near Siena. The anti-aging The Cure cream is chemical-free and one of the most nourishing I’ve ever tried. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
L’Iris Eau de Parfum, Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella
This iris perfume was the first ever made by Florence mainstay Santa Maria Novella. A celebration of the city, it’s beautifully floral and sophisticated. –Clarissa Grassellini, Italy Segreta Finance Manager
Toothpaste, Marvis
Toothpaste is unashamedly one of my favorite stocking stuffers. The now-internationally famed, almost 30-year-old toothpaste brand Marvis is actually made with 100% Italian ingredients. Aside from the ridiculously cute tubes it comes in–which certainly adds some vintage Italian apothecary vibes to your sink–the whacky flavors are the best part, perfect for any of us who loved bubblegum toothpaste as a kid. The cinnamon one tastes like a chai latte. –Nancy Butler, Italy Segreta Junior Editor
STATIONARY
Vintage Pencils, Fratelli Bonvini Milano
Fratelli Bonvini Milano is a dream destination for stationery enthusiasts. I hope you get a chance to visit the store in Milan in person to experience the beautiful smell of paper and the variety of limited edition notebooks, pencils, letter openers, and typewriters—a world of wonders for anyone who loves stationery. But their vintage pencil sets–from the 40s, 50s and 60s–are really something special and the perfect simple gift to convert anyone into a fan. –Marina Cacciapuoti, Italy Segreta Co-Founder & Creative Director
Battelli – A5 Notebook, Studio Saor
This notebook featuring Venice’s top-tier boats, from the Motonave Aquileia to the Vaporetto Serie 80, is handmade by the Venice-based, independent creative studio Studio Saor (which gets its name from the Venetian culinary technique of preserving fish and vegetables). “Illustrated architecture” is their focus, and design-lovers will jump for any of their notebooks, prints, posters, or tote bags (in staying with the theme, I love the Vaporetto one). –Anna Hirschorn, Italy Segreta Senior Editor
EXPERIENCES
Emiko Davies Venetian Lagoon Workshop, Italy Segreta
The fourth edition of Emiko Davies’ Lagoon Workshop is back, inspired by the release of her new cookbook Cinnamon and Salt: Cicchetti in Venice: Small Bites from the Lagoon City. This time, we’re offering two spring sessions (April 13-18 & May 12-17, 2025) to eat and drink your way through Venice with a pro. You’ll get to spend a day on a boat with one of the last crab fisherman of the area, visit orchards and gardens of Venice’s satellite islands, learn about the history of the islands with local historians, and, of course, eat in all of the city’s top restaurants. Pretty epic. –Italy Segreta Team
Travel Consultation, Italy Segreta
Know someone who’s got a trip to Italy on the books for 2025? Gift them a travel consultation–available for Finishing Touches (30 minutes) or a Deep Dive (one hour)–with our very own Italy Segreta Travel Team. Lots of secrets guaranteed to be spilled. –Italy Segreta Team
