Strange Beautiful Things to Buy in Sicily

Most souvenirs disappear into drawers after a trip.

Sicilian objects tend to do the opposite.

A slightly cracked ceramic bowl, a faded saint figure or an old tile from Palermo somehow keeps carrying the atmosphere of the island long after you return home. Sicily is full of things that feel imperfect in the best possible way — objects with wear, history and traces of another life.

If you are looking for unusual things to buy in Sicily beyond standard tourist souvenirs, these are some of the most beautiful things to bring home.

Teste di Moro — Sicily’s iconic ceramic heads

The most iconic Sicilian object is probably the Testa di Moro — ceramic heads traditionally used as planters or decorative vases.

According to legend, a young woman in Palermo fell in love with a Moorish man. When she discovered he planned to return to his wife in North Africa, she killed him in jealousy and used his head as a flower pot on her balcony. Basil grew beautifully from it, and soon neighbors began creating ceramic versions.

Today they appear everywhere across Sicily, from balconies and gardens to old palazzos and flea markets.

The most famous ceramic town is Caltagirone, which has produced ceramics since Arab times and remains Sicily’s ceramic capital. The most interesting heads are often older pieces with softer colors, slight asymmetry and crackled glaze that comes from age and handcraft rather than factory perfection.

Small suitcase-friendly versions found at Palermo markets often cost around €50–70 for older but not highly antique pieces.

Old Sicilian ceramic bowls

Old Sicilian bowls are often far more beautiful than new ceramics.

Two styles appear repeatedly across the island. One is the Arab-influenced majolica tradition, usually painted in cobalt blue, yellow and green with geometric motifs, lemons and floral decoration. The other is a more rustic folk style with earthy tones, thick glaze and irregular forms that originally belonged in ordinary Sicilian kitchens.

The best old bowls rarely look perfect. Instead, they show faded paint, uneven brushstrokes, worn undersides and tiny cracks in the glaze that give them warmth and character.

Antique Sicilian tiles

Old hand-painted Sicilian tiles are among the easiest and most beautiful things to bring home.

Many come from historic houses being renovated across Sicily. The best ones are slightly worn, sun-faded and visibly handmade. Even a single old tile can work beautifully as a small piece of art at home.

Small metal angels and cherubs

Palermo flea markets are full of strange little religious fragments: cherubs, angels, brass ornaments and pieces from old chandeliers or devotional objects.

Their charm often lies in the imperfections. Darkened metal, worn surfaces and missing details make them feel more like discoveries than decoration.

Old Sicilian saint figures

Religion and folk art constantly overlap in Sicily.

Old saint figures often feel theatrical, emotional and deeply Sicilian. The most beautiful examples are usually not the expensive ones, but those with faded colors, repaired cracks and hand-painted faces that clearly spent decades inside someone’s home.

Coral jewelry

Sicily has a long tradition of Mediterranean coral jewelry, especially around Trapani.

Older coral pieces often feel warmer and more characterful than modern versions. Slight irregularities, handmade details and softened surfaces give them a timeless quality. Small vintage earrings or pendants are easy to carry home and almost impossible to replicate elsewhere.

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Palermo’s Sunday flea market

One of the best places to find unusual Sicilian objects is Palermo’s Sunday flea market near the marina.

You’ll find old ceramics, religious objects, photographs, vintage kitchenware, tiles, lamps and strange things nobody really needs but suddenly wants badly.

The best purchases in Sicily are often the ones you never planned to buy.

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