The Rome IndexSouvenirs worth buying in Rome
What to bring home that isn't a plastic gladiator helmet.
Food and drink
Dried pasta in unusual shapes, high-quality tinned San Marzano tomatoes, Pecorino Romano from a proper alimentari, a bottle of local Frascati or Cesanese, and a small jar of truffle paste are all reliably better bought in Rome than abroad — and pack reasonably in checked luggage.
Prints and maps
A genuine antique print of Rome from the Piranesi tradition — available from reputable print dealers around Piazza Navona starting from modest prices for smaller engravings — makes a lasting reminder without being a tourist cliché.
What to avoid
Most things sold within 500 metres of any major tourist sight are made in the same Chinese factories as everywhere else. The Colosseum snow globe and the Vatican fridge magnet are fine if that's what you want; just don't confuse them with something specifically Roman.