Page 51 - Tuscany & Umbria: Rustic Beauty in the Italian Heartland

• Rome: Designer fashions, silks, artwork, religious items, leather goods of all kinds,
quality sunglasses.

• Sorrento: Coral, cameos, embroidered blouses, tarsia (intricate inlaid wood marquetry),
and Capodimonte ceramics.

• Venice: glassware, lace, velvet and damask, Carnival masks, silver products, and silks.

• Tuscany and Umbria: Both regions are known for their high-quality handicrafts such as
alabaster, handmade paper, terracotta, and pottery. Leather goods of all kinds—purses,
shoes, gloves, belts, etc.—are a popular buy, especially in cities like Florence and Lucca.
(For the best quality, and for leather that is truly made in Italy, buy in a shop and not
from street vendors.) Pesto in jars make a nice “taste of Italy” souvenir; so too can
bottles of local wine, such as Brunello or one of the Super Tuscan vintages, or a bottle of
olive oil.

• Bologna & Parma: -Z_S NT_TP^ L]P VYZbY QZ] _SPT] NZY_]TM`_TZY^ _Z N`T^TYP ^Z QZZO^_`ʬ^
are popular souvenirs. You can bring back processed foods such as balsamic vinegar, fruit
jams or fruit mustard (la mostarda di frutta), and hard cheeses like parmesan. Cheeses
should be vacuum sealed if you plan to bring them back to the U.S.

• Sicily: Popular items in Sicily include antiques, ceramics, jewelry, lace, almond pastries
(such as marzipan), or local olive oil.

DZ`ɪWW LW^Z ^PP XLYd OTʬP]PY_ T_PX^ XLOP Q]ZX ZWTaP bZZO Z] .L]]L]L XL]MWP& U`^_ ]PXPXMP]
_SL_ LYd XL]MWP T_PX^ dZ` [`]NSL^P ^SZ`WO MP [`_ TY_Z dZ`] NSPNVPO W`RRLRP QZ] _SP ʮTRS_
SZXP 4Q dZ` [`_ _SPX TY dZ`] NL]]d ZY _SPd XLd MP NZYʭ^NL_PO Md ^PN`]T_d L^ ɭbPL[ZY^ɮ

Value Added Tax: In Italy, a Value Added Tax is levied on most articles, services, and meals,
and ranges from 17% to 33%. Depending on how much you spend on certain goods in specially
marked Tax Free Shopping stores, you may be eligible for a partial refund of this tax. Ask
_SP ^SZ[VPP[P] ^LWP^[P]^ZY Z] Z`] WZNLW ^_Lʬ QZ] OP_LTW^ -P ^`]P _Z ^LaP LWW ]PNPT[_^ LYO _SP
special Global Tax Refund forms for Customs, as receipts alone are not enough.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges
For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs &
Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked
questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with
you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when
_SP ^SZ[ SL^ ZʬP]PO _Z TYNW`OP ^ST[[TYR LYO O`_TP^ TY _SP []TNP _ST^ _d[TNLWWd XPLY^
shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-
door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges

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