One of the places I visit every trip to Rome is Bartolucci, actually I visit the store several times each visit.  Bartolucci is an Italian wood carving shop and sells enchanting wood fairytale characters.  When I enter the shop I feel like I have stepped back into Gypetto’s workshop.

The characters they make, feature carefully designed facial expressions, with big baby eyes and a crafty look that make people laugh when they enter the shop – making them feel as if they were in the world of fairytales.

They make everything from clocks, lamps, rocking horses, old style cars, keychains, hangers, music boxes, doorknockers, pen holders & pencil holders and marionettes… everything hand-made and everything in wood.

I recently visited the shop and purchased the Pinocchio below for friends of mine who are expecting their first child, Andy and Anik.  When i saw Pinocchio I knew it was the perfect gift, hanging from Pinocchio is a string with Jiminy Cricket at the end and when you pull it, it plays a lullaby.   I’m sure they are going to love it.

With my first purchase made I was on the hunt for something for my first granddaughter, Ava.  Ava loves ducks, so I wanted to get something with a duck on it.  There were so many adorable things: cats, Pinocchio, ballet dancers, birds, owls, dogs, lady bugs but no ducks.

Finally, I spotted something that I knew would be perfect for Ava, something Ava calls, “Meows.”  I found a cat like the Pinocchio I had purchased, the cute cat had a string hanging from it with a fish at the end, when you pull it, it plays music.  I am certain Ava will love it.

As I was paying for the purchase, I  finally spotted a duck.  The adorable duck was a pencil holder and I had to add that to my purchase.

If you want to buy a unique gift when you are Rome, head over to Bartolucci and purchase one of their enchanting gifts.  To find out more about them, head over to their website –  CLICK HERE ….

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