Italy teaches us that the best moments aren’t rushed—they’re sipped, savored, lingered over. This gift guide gathers presents that invite your favorite Italophile to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience a little bit of Italy wherever they are.

These are gifts for people who want more than things—they want feelings. A spritz at golden hour. A puzzle on a rainy day. A moka pot bubbling in a quiet morning kitchen. A book that smells faintly of adventure.

Let’s begin.

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Italy Lovers: Inspired Italian Gifts for Every Italophile

FOR THE COZY, SLOW-DOWN HOMEBODY ITALOPHILE

perfect gifts for italy lovers who love puzzles

A Puzzle of Italian Wine Regions

Holiday afternoons and puzzles go together like pecorino and honey. My favorite discovery is the beautifully made Water & Wines puzzle of Italian wine regions—gorgeous, sturdy, and educational without trying too hard.

It’s the kind of gift that encourages your loved one to slow down, sip something delicious, and remember the shape of Italy in a way that feels tactile and joyful.

what to give the italy lover on your list who loves coffee

A Moka Pot for Slow Mornings

Nothing says “Italian morning” like a moka pot gurgling on the stove. It’s ritualistic and unrushed—the perfect rhythm for someone who wants to greet the morning the Italian way. Pair with a bag of Italian roast or a small jar of biscotti for dipping.

Scopa Cards (for playful, phone-free afternoons)

Scopa is what happens when Italy and game night intertwine—quick, lively, and best played while nibbling on something salty. A deck of scopa cards is an inexpensive, utterly delightful gift that sparks connection and slows time in the best way. You can check out the game directions we put together based on Umbrian rules we learned from the old men in Spello’s piazza.

FOR THE FOOD-LOVER WHO LIVES AT THE STOVE (OR WANTS TO)

The Cookbook “Cinnamon and Salt: Ciccheti in Venice: Small Bites From The Lagoon City”

Emiko Davies’ cookbook—centered on Venice’s iconic small bites—invites the cook to slow down and enjoy the beauty of making tiny, perfect things. It’s both a culinary tour of Venice and a reminder that food can be playful and deeply meaningful.

Homemade Biscotti in a Festive Tin

If gifts from the kitchen are your love language, biscotti is your ambassador. They’re endlessly customizable—hazelnut and chocolate for Piedmont lovers, orange zest for Sicily dreamers, pine nuts for southern Italian romantics.

Add a small bottle of Vin Santo or a favorite Italian coffee (or a moka!), and you have a deeply personal, regionally thoughtful gift.

Love the idea, but need a recipe? I’ve got you, check out my link!

pasta can make a fun gift for an itally lover

Fun-Shaped Pasta (Because Delight Matters)

Few people buy themselves whimsical pasta, which is why it makes such a surprising and charming gift. Strozzapretti, trofie, busiate—each shape tells a regional story. Add a jar of pesto or a bottle of olive oil and you’ve transformed dinner into an Italian evening.

FOR THE OENOPHILE WITH A WANDERING HEART

great gifts for friends who love wine and italy

A Meaningful Bottle from a Favorite Region

Gifting wine is gifting a memory—“Remember that trip?” “Remember that view?” “Remember that night in Umbria?”

Choose a bottle tied to a region they love. Bonus points for handwritten tasting notes or pairing suggestions.

A Wine Journal

For the friend who swirls, sniffs, and opines. A wine journal is a contemplative little gift—the kind that invites slow sipping and thoughtful evenings.

FOR THE BOOK-LOVER (OR THE TRAVELER-IN-WAITING)

Books Set in Italy

Books are the cheapest plane ticket you can buy, and Italophiles never tire of stories soaked in rosemary-scented air.

Book recommendations for people who love italy

Beautiful options that transport:

Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center — a reader favorite for a reason; it drops you straight into Umbrian life (and makes an excellent companion gift with an herb-infused candle or olive oil). With over two-hundred five star reviews!
The Santa Lucia novels — for readers craving small-town intrigue and warmth.
The Murder in an Italian Village cozy mystery series — for the Italophile who believes a book is always better with a killer around the corner.

Okay, yes, I wrote all those. But I have others to recommend!

Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King
The House at the Edge of Night by Catherine Banner
Donna Leon’s Brunetti series (Venice at its most atmospheric)

Pairing idea: wrap the book with a pashmina for chilly piazzas, real or imagined.

FOR THE ART LOVER WHO IS ALWAYS IN A MUSEUM (OR WISHES THEY WERE)

great books for italophiles who love art

A Blank Sketchbook + a Set of Pencils

Italy is the birthplace of sketch-worthy beauty. Encourage your friend to notice more, draw more, slow down more. Art creates presence.

Art Books with Italian Soul

Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling, The Passion of Artemisia, or any book that lets someone wander through Italy’s artistic treasures at their own pace.

FOR THE ITALIAN-LANGUAGE DREAMER

Italian Magnetic Poetry

Learning Italian should feel like play, not homework. This small gift bring joy and spark daily engagement, one word (or rhyme) at a time.

Inspirational Reads

La Bella Lingua for the history-lover, In Other Words for the introspective creative—both encourage lingering with language.

FOR THE WOULD-BE (OR SOON-TO-BE) ITALY TRAVELER

Thoughtful Travel Tools

A purse hook for café tables
A pop-up city map (more fun and far more practical than digital versions)
A travel shawl that doubles as cathedral cover, picnic blanket, or airplane cocoon

These make lovely pairings with a book set in the traveler’s destination.

Looking for more ideas? Check out my gift guide from 2024, the Joyful Gift Guide (full of ideas to support Italian artisans), Nine Sensational Gifts for Italy-Lovers, and (from the archives) the 2105 Il Bel Centro Gift Guide.

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