Pastificio dei Campi (Gragnano)
Must-SeeSlow-dried at low temperature through bronze dies — the rough surface holds sauce. The difference from industrial pasta is extraordinary. Italy's finest.
Martelli
Must-SeeFamily-run pastificio since 1926. Yellow packaging, rough texture, incredible flavour. Only four shapes — each is perfect. Available in good food shops.
Setaro
Must-SeeArtisan Gragnano-method pasta with outstanding texture. Their spaghetti and rigatoni are benchmarks. Available at Eataly stores.
Best supermarket pasta
Must-SeeRummo, Garofalo, and Voiello are excellent supermarket options — dramatically better than most pasta available outside Italy. Stock up.
Which shapes to buy
Must-SeeBring shapes you can't get at home: orecchiette, paccheri, trofie, mafaldine, candele. The shape changes how sauce clings — each has a purpose.
Bottom line
The best Italian souvenir is one that brings Italy into your daily life. A bottle of olive oil, a kilo of Parmigiano, or a bag of espresso beans will remind you of your trip every day.