Italian Food Recognised by UNESCO: A World-Renowned Culinary Treasure
At Bellarome Italian Vacations, we are celebrating Italy’s cuisine being officially recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. For us, this honour feels deeply personal. Italian food is not just something our travellers enjoy on tour; it is the heartbeat of the country we love, the table we have gathered around since childhood, and the cultural soul we spend our lives sharing with guests from around the world.
This recognition is profoundly well deserved. Italian cuisine is a tapestry of traditions — of grandmothers teaching ravioli by hand, fishermen rising before dawn, farmers tending vineyards that have shaped landscapes for centuries, and families pausing their day to sit, eat, laugh and be together. It is a way of life rooted in care, connection and community.
We have always believed that food is one of the most meaningful gateways into Italian culture. That’s why our culinary journeys are designed by local experts who grew up with these rituals. And now, with UNESCO’s announcement, the world officially acknowledges what we have felt all along: Italian cuisine is not simply delicious — it is a living heritage to be preserved, celebrated and shared.
With that, here’s what this recognition means, how it joins Italy’s already-celebrated food traditions on the UNESCO list. Not to mention how you can experience it firsthand through our immersive food tours crafted by the people who know these traditions best.
What UNESCO Recognition Means for Food
This new UNESCO listing is extraordinary because it recognises the entire cultural practice of Italian cuisine, not a single dish or technique. It honours:
- The ritual of cooking and eating together
- The passing of knowledge from generation to generation
- Italy’s regional biodiversity and seasonal traditions
- The emphasis on sustainability and anti-waste recipes
- The central role of food in identity, celebration, and community
Italian cuisine has always been more than recipes — it is a shared cultural language. UNESCO’s inscription formally recognises the living heritage expressed in Sunday lunches, local festivals, family kitchens, and bustling open-air markets.
This is not about food as a product; it’s about the longstanding culture and culinary traditions at its core.
A Delicious Line-up: Italian Food Already Recognised by UNESCO
This new recognition joins several iconic Italian food traditions that were already UNESCO-protected, including:
- The Art of Neapolitan Pizza-Making (Pizzaiuolo Napoletano)
Recognised in 2017, this celebrates the traditional craft behind the world’s most famous pizza — from the dough techniques to the wood-fired oven rituals found only in Naples. - The Mediterranean Diet
A shared heritage across Italy’s coastal regions, recognising the holistic lifestyle surrounding food: seasonality, community, simplicity, and respect for the land. - The Pantelleria Zibibbo Vine
A rare agricultural tradition preserving one of Italy’s oldest vine-training methods on the volcanic island of Pantelleria. - Truffle Hunting in Italy’s Forests
The age-old relationship between truffle hunters, their dogs, and the land — a culinary ritual deeply tied to the culture of Piedmont, Umbria and central Italy.
These traditions demonstrate that Italy’s food identity is inseparable from its landscapes, families, and regional stories.
The new inscription brings all these threads together, recognising Italian cuisine in its entirety as a cultural treasure worthy of protection and celebration.
A Deeper Way to Experience Italy Through Food
No tour of Italy is complete without an in-depth food experience, yet many travellers miss out when left to choose touristic restaurants without vital local knowledge. Imagine hand-rolling pasta with a Bologna sfoglina, exploring a Tuscan market at dawn with a chef, or tasting authentic Neapolitan pizza from a century-old family wood-fired oven. Or strolling through Barolo vineyards with a winemaker, sampling Sardinian pecorino in a shepherd’s hut, or discovering Calabria’s fiery flavours from local nonne. These are the moments that bring Italy’s culinary heritage vividly to life.
Designed by Local Experts, Rooted in Authenticity
Our food tours are curated by people who grew up with these rituals. Locals who understand:
- the meaning behind every dish
- the cultural story behind each ingredient
- the regional rules, the family secrets, and the memories that shape Italian cuisine
With Bellarome Italian Vacations, you taste Italy exactly as UNESCO recognises it — as a vibrant, living heritage.
Whether you want a full culinary itinerary or simply to enrich a broader Italian trip with meaningful food experiences, our specialists craft every detail with passion and precision.
If you’re ready to experience Italy’s newly celebrated culinary heritage with the experts who know it best, contact us and let us design your perfect culinary journey.
