Thanks so much for all of your prompt and helpful advice- will try making my own. Already asked various pastry shops and their suppliers. You're absolutely right about about the non- use of vanilla extract here in Italy.
For whatever reason, Italians don't seem to care for vanilla extract quite the way we in the US do. I'd suggest you purchase vanilla bean pods, and make your own using either vodka or bourbon. Though vanilla beans do seem expensive when buying, you can get a lot of use from them. Once they have flavored the liquor, pull them out, dry them off, and bury them in a jar of sugar. You can flavor quite a bit of sugar with just one pod, and keep it going for several months. Once that is done, simmer them in a pot of milk for pudding or custard, and scrape the seeds to get a really good kick of flavor. Finally, chop the pods up and add in with the coffee grounds or tea to add a slight flavor to the brew. A quality pod can be used to flavor many things, and be reused many times before it gives up all it's flavor.
It's VERY expensive but for example https://www.dulcipedia.it/ricerca?controller=search&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=estratto+di+vaniglia+&submit_search= https://tibiona.it/euro-vanille
I think you can substitute it with la stecca di vaniglia or Vanillina and generally it's cheaper
Vanilla extract IS expensive in the US, too. Couple of ideas... could you ask if a local bakery or coffee shop might sell you a small bottle full? Make you own from vanilla beans and vodka, provided each is available where you are? Can you get vanilla paste to use instead?
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https://tibiona.it/euro-vanille
I think you can substitute it with la stecca di vaniglia or Vanillina and generally it's cheaper