14 May The Origin of Souvenirs
Bringing back souvenirs from a trip is a common tradition, but it wasn’t always that way. In ancient times, souvenirs were much more exclusive—and often stolen.
During the Grand Tour era of the 17th and 18th centuries, young European aristocrats traveled through Italy and Greece, taking fragments of statues or pieces of ruins as personal trophies. Before that, during the Crusades, soldiers returned home with looted religious relics from the Middle East.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that souvenirs as we know them today emerged, thanks to the rise of mass tourism. With the creation of world fairs and international exhibitions, items specifically designed for tourists—such as postcards and miniature monuments—began to be produced.
Today, souvenirs are a multibillion-dollar industry and a way to preserve travel memories—without the need to plunder ancient temples.
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