Visiting Italy means discovering its unique landscapes and incredibly rich heritage, but it also means eating! From Piedmont to Sicily, culinary tourism has a bright future in the peninsula! Who doesn't love pizza, pasta and burrata ? Italian cuisine is a must for all food lovers. It is based on simple ingredients, enhanced by a unique know-how that has been passed down from generation to generation. From north to south, we have selected twenty culinary specialties to enjoy during a trip to Italy. Buon appetito !
And if you're planning a vacation in Italy, check out our selection of 27 must-see places in the country. Enough to help you dream and escape...
1. Parmigiana, queen of the South
If Sicily and Campania are fighting over its origin, you can taste parmigiana in the whole south of Italy. This Sunday dish made of baked eggplant au gratin and fried (or not, for a little more lightness), tomato sauce, basil and cheese (mozzarella, scamorza or caciocavallo among the most used) is simply divine! The ingredients are simple and the success guaranteed, as always in Italy!
2. The inevitable tiramisù
Tiramisù crossed the borders of Italy a long time ago, but let's face it, in Italy it has a completely different flavor! This dessert made with boudoirs bathed in coffee, covered with a cream made of mascarpone, eggs, sugar and sprinkled with bitter chocolate is the image of Italian cuisine: simple and delicious! It is said to originate from the Veneto or Friuli-Venezia Giulia, but don't worry, you can find it anywhere in Italy!
3. The margherita pizza, Neapolitan treasure
Diavola, capricciosa or quattro formaggi ? Well, no! Let's make it simpler and succumb to a margherita pizza! Tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, oil and that's it! A must in all Italian pizzerias , but it is in Naples that we eat the best, undoubtedly. According to legend, the first margherita was made there in 1889, in honor of Margaret of Savoy, Queen of Italy.
By the way, if you're planning a trip to Naples, be sure to read our article on the 18 must-see places in Naples!
4. The real pasta alla carbonara
Please, out of respect for Italian cuisine, stop putting cream in your pasta alla carbonara! For the real recipe, you need eggs, guanciale (pork cheek), pecorino (a sheep cheese) and a little pepper, nothing more! For the pasta, spaghetti or rigatoni are the order of the day! And you'll see, it's a thousand times better this way! A dish to enjoy in Rome, of course. Tempted by a stay in the eternal city? Discover here the 21 must-see places in Rome!
5. The supplì, a gourmet snack
If you've visited Rome, you've certainly tried supplì ! These little balls of fried rice filled with rice, tomato sauce and mozzarella are a snack you can't resist in the Italian capital! Traditionally, they are opened in two before being eaten, forming a thread of mozzarella between the two parts that is reminiscent of a telephone wire, hence their nickname of supplì al telefono (on the phone)!
6. The pasta al pesto, subito!
Who has never salivated in front of a pasta dish with pesto? This sauce from Liguria, the region of Genoa, is made of pine nuts, garlic, oil, parmesan and basil. It is crushed in a mortar before being mixed with the pasta dish (trofie, linguine or bavette preferably!). A more ancient recipe is to add potatoes and green beans to the pasta. A dish you can't get enough of!
7. The unexpected tiella alla barese
Head to the heel of the boot and the beautiful city of Bari in Puglia to taste its surprising, but delicious specialty, tiella alla barese . This roborative dish is simply composed of riso, patate e cozze or rice, potato and mussels! We don't skimp on starches in Italy! The result is so tasty, that one would almost believe that Italians can sublimate any ingredient!
8. The cannolo, Sicilian sweetness
The king of Sicilian cuisine is undoubtedly the cannolo ! This tube of fried dough filled with sheep's ricotta cheese in which chocolate chips or candied fruits are added is one of the pastries to discover on the island. You won't be able to resist it: every pasticceria offers it for the greatest happiness of the gourmets! We totally melt.
9. The focaccia, from Genoa to Bari
In Puglia, we eat well, even very well! After the tiella alla barese, here is the focaccia barese, a must of Bari's street food ! This oily bread is usually covered with fresh tomatoes and is a real pleasure to taste in the best panifici of Bari. If you are visiting Liguria, don't forget to try the delicious focaccia genovese, which is just as irresistible!
10. The inimitable lasagna
Whether it comes from Naples, Bologna or elsewhere, lasagna is an essential dish of Italian cuisine ! Lasagna Bolognese, covered with ragù (a tasty tomato sauce with meat) is a must. In the south of Italy, mozzarella is added to make it even tastier! The know-how is inimitable. It is the Sunday dish par excellence!
11. Sfogliatella, the Neapolitan must-have
Whether it is riccia, made with puff pastry, or liscia, with shortcrust pastry, sfogliatella is an emblematic pastry of Campania! This shell-shaped cake filled with ricotta cheese and candied fruit is eaten on every street corner in Naples, starting at breakfast, accompanied by a very good coffee. Beware, it's addictive!
12. Risotto alla milanese, a sure bet
This time, let's go to the north of Italy to taste the risotto of Milan! Called ris giald in the local dialect, this saffron flavored risotto is a comforting dish when winter hits the Lombardy capital! It can also be served as an accompaniment to the famous osso buco, another typical Milanese dish.
13. Pappa al pomodoro, a comforting dish
Italian cuisine is often referred to as povera (poor), for the ingredients it uses. Here is the emblem of this cucina povera : the pappa al pomodoro! To prepare this simple but delicious dish, you need hard bread, tomato, basil, garlic, olive oil and unmatched Tuscan know-how! This famous porridge was even featured in Rita Pavone's song " Viva la pappa col pomodoro".
14. The piadina romagnola, lunch on the go
The piadina is the assurance of a quick, practical and successful lunch! This pancake made of wheat flour, lard and olive oil filled with ham, cheese or vegetables is a delicacy that comes straight from Emilia Romagna, the region of Bologna. Baked on a round terracotta dish, it can be eaten in piaderie or at home (you can find it in all Italian supermarkets to stuff yourself).
15. The Roman pizza bianca , a must
Of course, in Rome you will find all kinds of pizza: Neapolitan dough, high and soft, or Roman, thin and crunchy. The pinsa, the pizza of Rome, is also to be discovered. But the one that conquers the hearts of all Romans is the pizza bianca ! Especially the one with mortadella, the pizza e mortazza . For lunch, a snack or an aperitif, succumb to this tasty and crunchy pizza bread!
16. Gnocchi alla sorrentina, a recipe to discover
You've already heard of gnocchi, but do you know this recipe from Campania that consists of cooking these tasty little balls of baked potato with mozzarella and tomato sauce? A delicious and greedy primo piatto , to be enjoyed from Naples to Sorrento, of course!
17. Cialledda materana, a specialty of the city of sassi
European Capital of Culture 2019, Matera has been put in the spotlight and it was high time! This city of Basilicata is one of the jewels of southern Italy. It is famous for its sassi (literally "pebbles"), unique troglodyte dwellings. If you visit Matera, you should not miss its specialty: the cialledda materana, a mixture of hard bread, tomatoes, onions and oregano. Delicious and surprising!
18. The pasta al ragù bolognese, the original dish
Once you have tasted the real pasta al ragù bolognese, we are sure that you will never again be satisfied with the usual bolognese sauce from the local supermarket! In Italy, particularly in Bologna , ragù is an institution and is quite unlike anything you will taste elsewhere. It is usually served with tagliatelle and consists of minced meat, pancetta, carrot, celery, onion, tomato and red wine. A must !
19. Arancini, a concentrate of flavors
Whether it is called arancino, as in Catania, or arancina, as in Palermo, this fried rice ball traditionally filled with ragù, peas and cheese, makes everyone agree: it is a delight! It owes its name to its round shape reminiscent of an orange, although in the eastern part of Sicily it tends to be conical in shape, symbolizing Etna. A must-taste during a trip to Sicily!
20. The orecchiette cime di rapa, Puglia in the plate
There are so many specialties in Puglia, that we had a hard time choosing only one (there are actually three in this article!). Orecchiette is the typical pasta of this region. If you visit Bari, you'll surely come across lovely cooks preparing it in front of their home in the old town. Their handiwork is incredible! Accompanied by cime di rapa (vegetables that are hard to find in France, similar to broccoli rabe), it's a favorite!
