Eating in Italy

Autumn brings truffle season in Italy, meaning weekend markets with licensed hunters selling truffles, chef demos and tasting “labs,”. Undoubtedly a highlight on the foodie calendar in Italy, you can expect truffle‑dog displays and occasional auctions.

Italy moves on unspoken rules and long‑standing habits. The ten things not to do in Italy are mostly about small courtesies—how you order, how you greet, and how you handle day‑to‑day travel.

Italy does cheese the way nonna does Sunday lunch: with pride and deep regional roots. Across the Alpine pastures, the Po Valley dairies and the sunny farms of Sicily, each area champions its own cheese styles. These are shaped by milk type, ageing traditions and DOP/IGP rules.

Latronico’s finally popping up on savvy travellers’ radars for two big reasons: wellness and wild nature. This small hill town in Basilicata’s Potenza province sits between the Monte Alpi massif and the edges of Pollino National Park.

Where can you find the best cheese in Italy? From the mountains of the Aosta Valley to the sunny landscapes of Sicily, Italy is a paradise for cheese lovers.

Verona is in northern Italy’s Veneto region, with the Adige River flowing right through its centre. While it's often linked to Shakespeare’s famous couple, the city's character is really shaped by its grand Roman amphitheatre and winding medieval lanes.

There's a bit of magic in the air once the August crowds have thinned out and the intense summer heat begins to soften. Italy seems to take a collective, relaxed breath, making it a pretty special time to visit.

Piedmont is a fascinating corner of Italy, a place where grand, elegant cities sit against a backdrop of snow-dusted alpine peaks. But deciding what to see in Piedmont is about more than just ticking off the sights.

Florence is where it all began back in the Renaissance, supposedly first whipped up for the Medici court. Forgetting the bright green pistachio and fluffy mounds piled high in shop windows is the first step, and understanding the real difference between gelato and ice cream is key to the hunt.

Hunting down the best gelato in Italy is one of those essential things you have to do when you're here, but it's good to know that gelato is so much more than just ice cream. It's a proper daily ritual, a treat that's taken very seriously and is seen as a true art form.

Strolling through a sunny Italian piazza, it’s easy to think that gelato is just the local word for ice cream. The debate of gelato vs ice cream, however, goes far beyond a simple translation.

Summer in Italy means sunshine, sightseeing, and plenty of gelato. If you’re heading to Italy and looking for the perfect way to cool down, nothing beats a scoop (or two) of traditional, homemade gelato. But with so many delicious options to choose from, which flavours are local favourites?

When you think of Italian desserts, your mind probably jumps straight to Tiramisù, a creamy Panna Cotta, or maybe a scoop of Gelato. They're certainly famous for a reason, but the world of Italian sweets, or dolci, goes so much deeper than the usual suspects.

There's a special moment at the end of a good Italian meal, when you're full and happy but not quite ready to leave the table. This is often when a small glass of something sweet and aromatic appears. In Italy, dessert wine isn't just an afterthought; it’s a cherished part of the dining culture.

Food is central to Italian life, and there's no better way to dive into that world than by visiting a local food festival. In Italy, these are often called a sagra, and they're fantastic, community-run events celebrating a specific local ingredient.

When you think of the most popular dessert in Italy, it's easy for tiramisù and gelato to steal the show. But Italy has a deep love for chocolate, and its dolci often showcase it in a way that’s wonderfully rich and not overly sweet.

Italy and pasta go hand in hand—it's not a cliché, it's just the simple truth.

Pasta dishes in Southern Italy are all about sun-soaked ingredients, sharp flavours and the kind of recipes that have been handed down in local dialects for generations.

Central Italy is where rustic countryside flavours collide with city flair, and the region’s pasta dishes are all about bold simplicity and proudly local ingredients.

Northern Italy’s pasta scene is all about comfort, richness and an eye for proper detail. The region’s love affair with creamy sauces, eggy fresh pastas, and plenty of cheese shines through in each dish, with local ingredients giving classics their unmistakable northern twist.

Southern Italy doesn’t make a big fuss—food’s woven into the day almost without thinking.

Easter 2025 is just around the corner, and Italy and its Easter traditions are waiting to be discovered.

Italy is renowned for its rich culinary traditions, diverse regional dishes, and a deep appreciation for high-quality ingredients. Italian cuisine is characterised by its simplicity, emphasising fresh, seasonal produce and the use of olive oil, garlic, and herbs.

What is a traditional Italian pizza? Italian pizza is renowned worldwide for its delicious flavours, thin crust, and high-quality ingredients.

In Italy, you know that wherever you go you can eat well. But there is a real ranking of the best restaurants in the world and, according to the Compare The Market study, there are two Italian cities in the top 5: Venice, which dominates at number one, and Milan, at number five.