Send a surprise in Rome
To send a surprise to someone in Rome, post your idea on Surprizia, whether a cake, a bunch of flowers or a handwritten card, and a local Helper can offer to deliver it. Rome's historic centre has narrow cobbled lanes and old palazzo buildings with courtyards and intercoms, so include the exact door and the name beside the bell.
Country
Italy
Time zone
Europe/Rome
Currency
EUR
Official languages
Italian
Weekend
Saturday & Sunday
Right now in Rome
No helpers here yet
Watch this city to be emailed when a helper joins or a request appears, or invite someone you know in Rome.
Gifting occasions in Rome
Festa della Donna
8 March
Many people give yellow mimosa flowers to friends, relatives and colleagues on International Women's Day.
Festa del Papà
19 March
Fathers are traditionally celebrated on the feast of San Giuseppe, often with cards, treats and a family meal.
Festa della Mamma
Second Sunday of May
Flowers and a lunch together are common ways to thank mothers.
Surprise ideas
A bunch of mimosa in early March
It is the flower most associated with the women's day tradition in Italy.
A tray of mixed pastries for a Sunday lunch
Bringing a tray of sweets to a family meal is a widely loved Italian habit.
Italian chocolates or biscotti
They travel well and are easy to share if the recipient is out when the Helper arrives.
Seasonal flowers from a local market stall
Roman markets sell fresh blooms that suit most birthdays and anniversaries.
A handwritten card with a small keepsake of the city
A personal line in Italian or English adds warmth to any gift.
Delivery tips for Rome
- 1
In the historic centre, many streets are cobbled, pedestrian-only or restricted to residents' vehicles, so Helpers often arrive on foot or by public transport.
- 2
Many Roman buildings have a large street door and a courtyard, so include the staircase letter, the floor and the name beside the bell.
- 3
Some old buildings have no lift, so mention the floor if the item is large or heavy.
- 4
Summer afternoons can be very hot, so agree a morning or evening handover for flowers and cakes.
- 5
Around 15 August many residents leave the city for holiday, so confirm the recipient is at home before you plan a surprise in mid-August.
Gift etiquette
Many Italians traditionally bring sweets or flowers when invited to a home, so a gift arriving before a family meal is usually welcome.
If sending flowers, many people traditionally avoid chrysanthemums, which are strongly linked with remembering the dead in Italy.
A short warm message in Italian is typically appreciated, even if it is only a line or two.
Success stories in Rome
No stories yet. The first completed surprise in Rome can be the first one.
Questions about sending a surprise to Rome
›Can I send flowers to someone in Rome on International Women's Day?
Yes. Many people give mimosa on 8 March, so post your request a few days early and ask the Helper to pick a fresh bunch. Confirm in chat what to do if mimosa is hard to find that week.
›How will a Helper find a flat inside a courtyard building in Rome?
Give the street name, the building number, the staircase letter, the floor and the name beside the intercom button. If the main door is only opened by buzzer, tell the Helper to expect to call the recipient first.
›Is it a problem to deliver in Rome's historic centre?
Streets there are often narrow and some are limited to residents' vehicles, so a Helper may walk part of the way. Choose a flexible window and say whether the recipient can meet the Helper at the street door.
›Who decides how the gift is paid for when I use Surprizia in Rome?
The Helper and you arrange the cost of the item directly, since nothing is sold or handed over by the platform. Settle the details in your messages before anything is purchased at a Roman pastry counter or flower stall.
Send a surprise in Rome
Watch this city to be emailed when a helper joins or a request appears, or invite someone you know in Rome.