The holiday season is here! And with it comes the joy of giving inspired gifts to friends and family. If you’re an expat, you have the added challenge of finding presents light and small enough to mail overseas or to fit in a suitcase. The editors of The Florentine share some of Florence and Tuscany’s neatest gifts.
10 euro or less
Lovebite anyone
Treat your family to a taste of Tuscany, without wrestling with an oversized panettone box or the weight of a bar of tooth-tough torrone. Vestri’s exquisite Lovebites made from the finest cacao beans and hazelnut nibs are sure to score some brownie points with the folks at home: 9.80 euro, from Vestri, borgo degli Albizi 11R, www.vestri.it
Give your dog a… reindeer
Your faithful friend deserves a gift or two this holiday season. Soft, colourful and fun galore, treat your hound to this plush Christmas reindeer toy, so that your pet has a special treat to play with, too: 7.50 euro, from Zei Cinofilia, via Colletta Pietro, 30, www.zeicinofilia.it
Appy Christmas!
Inferno Florence Guide follows in the footsteps of Robert Langdon in Dan Brown’s latest book, Inferno. Listing more than 30 locations, the app provides plenty of fun facts about Florence. From now until the end of 2013, buy the app and get a three-month PDF subscription to The Florentine! Perfect for armchair travellers and Florence lovers! $2.99, from http://theflr.net/inferno
Inky treats
Betty Soldi’s calligraphic espresso cups offer a fresh perspective while sipping Italy’s much-loved coffee. If espresso’s not to your taste, then grab one of Betty’s irresistible London-meets-Florence cotton tea cloths or her hand-illustrated, fun-themed china plates. Prices start at 10 euro, from & Company, via Maggio 47R, www.andcompanyshop.com
11 to 50 euro
‘Boared’ of reading?
Looking for an unusual yet authentic book about Italy for your loved ones? Il Distretto 9 del Chianti: Chasing Boars and Boar Hunters in Tuscany is a beautiful, dual-language book by famed Tuscan author Dario Castagno and Irish photographer Fionn McCann: 40 euro, from B&M Books, in borgo Ognissanti 4R
Bottles of love
Spread the love this holiday season with Officina de’ Tornabuoni’s beautifully presented Love set. Cradled in a classic red box, four individually scented aromatherapy shower gels come in single bottles that relax, bring harmony, fortify and energize: 48.50 euro, from Officina de’ Tornabuoni, in via del Parione 52R, www.officinadetornabuoni.com
Gobble it up
The next best thing to eating food is looking at food. Enjoy a guilt-free holiday season by indulging in a culinary illustration by Emiko Davies. Penned individually by hand using Emiko’s own tried-and-tested recipes, these sketches are good enough to eat: 30.25 euro, from http://theflr.net/w2fgw5
Stick ‘em up!
A wonderful idea to decorate your child’s room and encourage the little ones to play and imagine. Chispum wall stickers give them yet another reason to grow up with a smile on their face: 29.50 euro from Baby Bottega, via il Prato 53-55R, www.babybottega.com
51 euro or more
Orange palms scatter cushion
Looking for something uplifting and cheerful to brighten up the home? Expat designer Rebecca Milner’s fun prints bring the warmth of the Mediterranean indoors. Palm trees, lazy tigers and zigzag flowers offer a whimsical touch this Christmas and beyond: 52 euro, from www.paripassi.com
3D printed jewels
The new wave of Italian artisanship uses techniques like 3D printing to make unique objects that cannot be produced by hand. The Dentelle bracelet’s intricate honeycomb structure is flexible and visually interesting. Bright colours and professional finish make this colourful bangle a real show-stopper: 69 euro, from MakeTank theflr.net/dentelle
Not your granny’s knitting
We love BettaKnit’s fun attitude and funky knits! This year we’re lusting after the Very Snood. The perfect gift for a craft lover, the kit includes everything needed to make a neck-warmer/hood. 93 euro, from BettaKnit theflr.net/bksnood. BettaKnit is offering a special 10% discount to TF readers until December 31, 2013: just use the code TFGIFT at checkout.
Give back
Pick up a Christmas hamper, cosmetics and a range of other Tuscan gifts from the Emergency Store in via de’ Ginori 14, open until December 24; see www.emergency.firenze.it
Meyer Children’s Hospital offers a wide variety of Christmas cards and decorations; see http://theflr.net/ip3ycf. Give back and indulge at the same time with a FILE panettone or pandoro for 16 euro; e-mail file@leniterapia.it.
Light up children’s eyes with a festive candle (10 euro) from the Unicef Shop in via dei Serragli 188R; see regali.unicef.it. Head to any Runner Pizza shop in Florence and buy a classic cars-meets-sports celebrities calendar (7 euro); proceeds go to the Tuscan cancer research association A.T.T. See http://theflr.net/yc6zmj for more information.