So, you’ve booked your villa in Italy and you are excitedly planning what you are going to see and do during your vacation but what about the most important thing? What are you going to eat on your holiday in Italy? Well, to help you out, we have compiled a list of at least one of the key dishes, wines, products, or treats per location that you should make a point to sample in Italy based on your destination in question. So, consult our list and start planning a delicious getaway today...
Amalfi Coast
You’ve booked a villa on the Amalfi Coast and you’re lazing about by the sea, soaking up the sun, and generally taking things slow so the seafood is, of course, a must! Cetara’s anchovies, scialatielli (a shorter kind of spaghetti) topped with a variety of shellfish, and risotto with all kinds of seafood are all good options. Plus, be sure to enjoy incredible local wines like those from Ravello and keep things light by cleansing your palate with sorbet made from the area’s famous lemons before finishing meals with a glass of their beloved limoncello!
Bergamo
Those enjoying a stay in a holiday rental in Lombardy who love to eat well should definitely make a point to head to the culinary hot spot that is Bergamo. Some of the city’s unmissable dishes include a long list of delicious cheeses (particularly the famous Gran Padano cheese), lots of amazing salami and cured meats, polenta dishes, and stracciatella gelato, invented at a pastry shop called La Marianna in the 1960s.
Bologna
Another wonderful foodie destination, this time for those who book a vacation rental in Emilia Romagna, is Bologna. Of course, we all know bolognese but the city also boasts incredible foodie treats like parmesan, mortadella (a local lunch meat with over 6 centuries of history), tortellini in brodo (a stuffed-pasta dish served in a savoury broth), Zuppa Inglese (a kind of a take on a trifle), and more!
Cortona
There are lots of amazing things to eat while enjoying a stay in a villa in Tuscany – far too many to mention here – but if you’re in Cortona, in particular, sample the Cortona DOC, which is the only appellation in all of Italy where Syrah is the grape that is the star of the show.
Florence
Similarly, while you can sample a whole host of amazing Tuscan foods, dishes, desserts, and wines on vacation in Florence, some culinary treats that are specific to the city include her beloved bistecca alla fiorentina (steak) and lampredotto (a staple street food that serves tripe in a crusty bread roll topped by a zingy sauce. And then there are the wholesome, hearty soups of the city, pappa al pomodoro and ribollita, which lean heavily into the peasant traditions of Tuscan food. Plus, you’ll have historic cafes to choose from, endless wine bars, the most incredible pastry shops, and much more besides in this city that has much more to offer than just art and culture but a rich and astounding food culture as well!
Livorno
Along the Tuscan Coast, you’ll find the gorgeous town of Livorno where traditions of Tuscan cuisine meet excellent seafood to produce dishes like cacciucco. This is the city’s most famous dish, a soup with fish and shellfish and originally prepared with cheap cut-offs but now made with the best fish. There are plenty of other delicious seafood delights and more to try in town but this is the one not to be missed!
Of course, there are still plenty of places to go and things to eat so be sure to look out for the final part of our guide to the unmissable foods in Italy...