What to buy from Bologna, Italy?

The obvious buys are mortadella and Parmigiano Reggiano, both of which delis will vacuum-pack for travel if you ask. Dried tortellini and egg pasta pack flat and survive a suitcase. For wine, take a bottle of Lambrusco or Pignoletto, the two local labels you will have been drinking all week. Balsamic vinegar comes from Modena rather than Bologna, but the shops here stock it.

For something non-perishable and very Bolognese, Majani on Via Carbonesi has made chocolate since 1796. Its Fiat cremino, a layered chocolate cube that won a 1911 competition run by the car company, is still sold there.

Check your home country’s customs rules before you buy meat or cheese. Great Britain, for example, bans travelers from bringing most meat and dairy products in from the EU, packaged or not.