Put down the spaghetti and pass the prosecco – Italy has become the first country to be awarded UNESCO recognition for its national cuisine. We didn’t think it was possible, but Italian cuisine is more on the map than it ever has been before.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Italian food has been recognized; the art of Neapolitan ‘Pizzaiuolo’ and truffle hunting are already on UNESCO’s list of “intangible cultural heritage”, but now Italian cooking traditions and the way they are practiced and transmitted are in the limelight.
Read on to find out more about why this is such a milestone for Italian cuisine, and how we honor local Italian traditions, culture and hospitality on our tours at Trafalgar.
Why Italian Cuisine was awarded UNESCO heritage status
In December 2025, UNESCO’s 20th annual Committee took place in Delhi, India, examining new entries for its intangible cultural heritage lists. Among 77 other countries Italy made its case, putting forward Italian cooking and the culture that surrounds it.
The Italian government presented the diversity of its cuisine, highlighting the countless pockets of unique cultures that are kept alive through food and cooking – from Puglia’s orecchiette con cime di rapa (ear-shaped pasta with turnip greens) to the simple tortellini in brodo (tortellini in broth) in the Emilia-Romagna region.
After its inscription was announced, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a statement: “For us Italians, cuisine is not just food or a collection of recipes. It is so much more: it is culture, tradition, work, wealth.” This award recognizes the blend of social and cultural traditions that are woven throughout Italian cuisine, from raw materials to artisanal food preparation techniques, and Meloni has been pushing for Italy’s cuisine to be acknowledged since her election in 2022.
“[Cooking] is a communal activity that emphasizes intimacy with food, respect for ingredients, and shared moments around the table,” writes the UNESCO listing. Not only that, but most traditional Italian recipes and techniques are rooted in anti-waste principles, with families passing skills, memories and flavors down generations.
UNESCO acknowledges that this is about so much more than just food. It’s about the social, generational nature of sharing these skills, with grandparents often passing down traditional dishes to their grandchildren. “It is a means of connecting with family and the community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings,” the UNESCO listing continues. “Beyond cooking, practitioners view the element as a way of caring for oneself and others, expressing love and rediscovering one’s cultural roots. It also strengthens bonds, encourages sharing, and promotes a sense of belonging.”
Ways to experience Italian cuisine with Trafalgar
Connecting with locals is at the heart of every Trafalgar tour, whether that’s with their history, their culture, or their family – and food is always at the center of this. On every itinerary you’ll find a Be My Guest experience, where travelers step into the lives of local hosts who open their homes, wineries, farms and more to share stories about their families, history and their communities, accompanied by traditional food and warm hospitality.
Beyond that we also feature MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experiences on our tours. Using a proprietary assessment tool endorsed by industry experts and developed exclusively for Trafalgar, these experiences are assessed against a robust set of criteria directly tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Wherever you travel with Trafalgar, you’ll meet passionate locals, support their craft and culture, and hear their stories firsthand – all while breaking bread and bonding over the dinner table. Discover our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® and Be My Guest Experiences unique to Italy below.
Our Italian culinary experiences
Taste the Cinque Family’s famous risotto at Villa Toscanini
As you jet across the tranquil Make Maggiore in Northern Italy, you’ll eventually reach the secluded Isola dei Pescatori, the smallest of the lake’s three islands. Here the Cinque family welcome you into their historic home, Villa Toscanini for a special Be My Guest experience.
This inspiring house is more than 100 years old and was once the hideaway of great Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, one of the most influential musicians of the 19th century.
Meet your host Ricardo, who will regale you with stories of this beautiful villa, his father Fabio behind the bar, and his uncles Stephane and Massimiliano in the kitchen, who will be busy cooking up a storm for you to enjoy – guests will never forget the taste of their legendary risotto alla Milanese (a Lombardy classic made with saffron).
Experience it on: Northern Italy Including Cinque Terre
Enjoy a Chianti and olive oil tasting with the Lenzi Family
A nice Chianti isn’t just for Hannibal Lecter – this Be My Guest experience will introduce you to the Lenzi family at their Tuscan wine estate, Fattoria di Petroio, overlooking the rolling Chianti Hills.
Owned by the Pallini-Lenzi family since the 1800s, learn how they produce some of the region’s best Chianti on the 15-hectare vineyard, as well as tasting their homegrown olive oil. You’ll be fed as well as watered – their daughter Diana is a trained chef, so the food is just as much a star of the show as the wine.
Experience it on: Wonders of Italy
Dine on a Family-Owned Lemon Farm Overlooking Mount Etna
Find out why Sicilian citrus is world-renowned when you meet your Be My Guest host Daniela on her family-owned farm. You’ll become part of the family as you enjoy her home-cooked Italian cuisine, served with a side of warm Sicilian hospitality. Over dinner, hear stories about life on the farm and their lemon and orange groves, while enjoying classic Sicilian produce such as seafood, almonds, pistachios and, of course, citrus.
Experience it on: Best of Italy and Sicily
Meet Signor Luciano for seasonal dinner in Alberobello
The charming town of Alberobello in Puglia is straight out of a fairytale. Circular stone-roofed houses called ‘trulli’ have earned the area UNESCO World Heritage status. At your Puglian Be My Guest experience, Signor Luciano will host you for dinner on his Alberobello farm. Tuck into local seasonal produce including fresh almonds, cherries, tomatoes and olive oil. Understand more about this unique area with a local stone masonry demonstration alongside the delicious food.
Experience it on: Grand Italian Experience
Walk through olive groves with the Callistri Family at their Borgo
Smaller than a village, a borgo is a hilltop collection of buildings perched overlooking the vineyards or working fields of the area, much like a hamlet – and Tuscany has plenty.
Just outside the medieval spa town of Montecatini, you’ll find the Borgo della Limonaia farmhouse, home to the Callistri family who have owned this estate since 1700 – your Be My Guest hosts. Today they still produce red wine and olive oil, which you’ll get to try, alongside a homemade Italian meal. After, take a leisurely walk through their olive groves and lemon orchards to learn more about their beautiful Tuscan home.
Experience it on: Italy Bellissimo
Dine with the Miari Fulcis Family at Maiano Societa Agricola
Brand new for 2026! Enjoy a slice of nobility as your Be My Guest experience takes to you the 15th century olive oil estate of Count Miari Fulcis in Tuscany. While the estate used to be home to some of Tuscany’s brightest stars during the Italian Renaissance, today it’s known for olive oil and honey.
Take a look around the medieval cloister and gardens before settling in for an aperitif and tasting of the estate’s finest olive oils. As the sun sets, you’ll enjoy a regional feast surrounded by local stories and flavors. Though it’s a working estate, it might look familiar – it was the filming location for James Ivory’s Oscar-winning A Room with a View (1987) and Franco Zeffirelli’s Tea with Mussolini (1999).
Experience it on: Real Italy
Taste the finest Modena Balsamic Vinegar
The foodie Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy is famous for many things from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to Prosciutto di Parma ham, but on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience you’ll uncover the traditions behind Modena balsamic vinegar.
At a historic, traditional acetaia (where traditional balsamic vinegar is made), dive into a tasting of some of the world’s finest balsamic vinegar. As pioneers in organic and biodynamic production, the producers place sustainable practices and soil care at the heart of their craft. This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption.
Experience it on: Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside
Dine in a medieval Tower House with the Landi Family
Perched atop a Tuscan hill, step into the history of eight generations of the Landi family at Villa il Leccio, their medieval home near Florence. Set within a garden of oak trees against the backdrop of vineyards and olive groves, your wonderful host Giada Landi and her family have transformed the villa into one of Trafalgar’s most beloved Be My Guest experiences.
Giada is the head of the household, head of the family business, and a cook and hostess extraordinaire to boot – just wait until you tuck into her fantastic Tuscan home cooking, which almost overshadows the fact that you’re dininginside an old medieval Tower House from the 1200s. Meanwhile, her brother and cousins manage the vineyard and farm; nearly 40 acres of the property are vineyards, used to make the wine you’ll drink, and more than 600 olive trees near the house make the family’s olive oil that you’ll taste.
Experience it on: Italian Concerto
Learn the traditions of the Serenelli Family at their Organic Farm
Meet some furry friends on this Be My Guest experience in Lombardy, where you’ll be welcomed by your host Anna Serenelli. Discover the oasis that is the family-owned farmhouse just 10km (6 miles) from Lake Garda, and learn about farming traditions here dating back to the 12th century. Meet the farm animals and hear from Anna how the farm played a part in Napoleon’s Battle of Solferino, before enjoying a hearty Lombardy meal like risotto or polenta.
Experience it on: Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside
Discover authentic Italian cuisine on Trafalgar tours to Italy.