Liguria is a narrow, crescent-shaped region in northwest Italy, hugging the Mediterranean between the Alps, the Apennines, and the sea. Known as the Italian Riviera, it is famous for the five cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre, the glamorous harbour of Portofino, and the maritime city of Genoa. Liguria is also the birthplace of pesto, focaccia, and a culinary tradition built around the sea and the steep, terraced coast.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Pesto alla Genovese
Authentic jarred pesto made with Genovese DOP basil, pine nuts, Pecorino, Parmigiano, garlic, and Ligurian olive oil; buy from historic Genoa botteghe for the genuine recipe
Price: €5-12 per jar
Where: Genoa food shops, Mercato Orientale, Sottoripa arcades
Taggiasca Olive Oil
Delicate extra-virgin olive oil pressed from small Taggiasca olives grown on the terraces of the Riviera di Ponente, prized for cooking and finishing
Price: €12-30 per 500ml
Where: Imperia and Taggia frantoi, Genoa specialty shops, producer estates
Acciughe di Monterosso (salted anchovies)
Salt-cured anchovies from the Cinque Terre, a Slow Food presidium, sold packed in salt or oil for transport
Price: €8-18 per jar
Where: Monterosso and Cinque Terre shops, Genoa salumerias
Sciacchetra & Cinque Terre Wines
Sweet amber Sciacchetra passito and crisp dry whites from the terraced Cinque Terre vineyards; Vermentino, Pigato, and Rossese are the key Ligurian varietals
Price: €15-60 per bottle (Sciacchetra higher)
Where: Cinque Terre cantinas, Genoa enoteche, Riviera wine estates
Chiavari Macrame Lace
Hand-knotted macrame fringe and lace from Chiavari, traditionally used for shawls and table linens, made by local artisans on the Tigullio coast
Price: €20-150
Where: Chiavari artisan workshops, Santa Margherita Ligure shops
Campo Ligure Filigree Silver
Delicate filigree jewellery of finely twisted silver wire, a centuries-old craft of the village of Campo Ligure with its own filigree museum
Price: €30-300
Where: Campo Ligure workshops and filigree museum shop, Genoa jewellers
Albisola Ceramics
Hand-painted majolica in the distinctive blue-and-white antico Savona style and bright modern designs from the ceramics towns of Albisola and Savona
Price: €15-200
Where: Albisola Superiore botteghe, Savona ceramics shops
Ardesia (Ligurian Slate) Objects
Carved and engraved black slate from the Fontanabuona valley, made into cheese boards, plaques, and tableware
Price: €10-80
Where: Fontanabuona valley workshops, Lavagna and Chiavari shops
Focaccia & Farinata Mixes
Dried focaccia and chickpea farinata flour mixes to recreate Ligurian street food at home, alongside focaccia di Recco cheese-bread ingredients
Price: €4-10
Where: Genoa bakeries, Recco food shops, Mercato Orientale
Sanremo Flowers & Floral Goods
Cut flowers, dried arrangements, and floral cosmetics from the Riviera dei Fiori around Sanremo, Italy's flower-growing capital
Price: €5-40
Where: Sanremo Mercato dei Fiori, Riviera florists and perfumeries
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercato Orientale
Genoa's grand covered market in a former convent cloister, the city's food heart for fresh produce, fish, cheese, and Ligurian specialities, now also a lively food hall
Where: Via XX Settembre, Genoa
Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30AM-7:30PM (food hall later); reduced Sun
Mercato dei Fiori di Sanremo
The largest flower market in Italy on the Riviera dei Fiori, where cut flowers and ornamental plants from the surrounding hothouses are traded in vast volumes
Where: Valle Armea, Sanremo, Imperia province
Hours: Wholesale early mornings (seasonal); visitor access by arrangement
Sarzana Antiques Market
A renowned antiques and vintage market in the elegant town of Sarzana, famed for its summer Soffitta nella Strada fair filling the historic streets with dealers
Where: Historic centre, Sarzana, La Spezia province
Hours: August Soffitta nella Strada festival; monthly antiques fairs