{"id":885689,"date":"2026-01-05T16:27:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T15:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=885689"},"modified":"2026-01-05T16:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T15:27:02","slug":"italian-cuisine-unesco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/italian-cuisine-unesco\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Cuisine Is Officially the Best In the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Put down the spaghetti and pass the prosecco \u2013\u00a0Italy\u00a0has become the\u00a0first country to be awarded\u00a0UNESCO<\/a>\u00a0recognition for\u00a0its\u00a0national cuisine.\u00a0We\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think it was possible, but Italian cuisine is more on the map than it ever has been before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, this isn\u2019t the first time Italian food has been recognized; the art of Neapolitan \u2018Pizzaiuolo\u2019<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to find out more about why this is such a milestone for Italian cuisine, and how\u00a0we honor local Italian traditions, culture and hospitality on our tours at Trafalgar.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Italian Cuisine was awarded UNESCO heritage status <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In December 2025, UNESCO\u2019s 20th<\/sup>\u00a0annual\u00a0Committee took place in Delhi, India, examining\u00a0new entries\u00a0for its intangible cultural heritage lists.\u00a0Among 77 other countries Italy made its case, putting forward Italian cooking and the culture that surrounds it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Italian government presented the diversity of its cuisine, highlighting the countless pockets of unique cultures that are kept alive through food and cooking \u2013 from Puglia’s orecchiette con\u00a0cime\u00a0di rapa (ear-shaped pasta with turnip greens) to the simple tortellini in brodo (tortellini in broth) in the Emilia-Romagna region.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After its inscription was announced,\u00a0Italian\u00a0Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni\u00a0made 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.”\u00a0This 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\u00a0has been pushing for\u00a0Italy’s cuisine to be acknowledged since her election\u00a0in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Cooking] is a communal activity that emphasizes intimacy with food, respect for ingredients, and shared moments around the table,\u201d writes the UNESCO\u00a0listing. Not only that, but most traditional Italian recipes and techniques are rooted in anti-waste principles, with families\u00a0passing\u00a0skills,\u00a0memories\u00a0and\u00a0flavors\u00a0down generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNESCO acknowledges that this is about so much more than just food.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0about the social, generational nature of sharing these skills, with grandparents often passing down traditional dishes to their grandchildren. \u201cIt is a means of connecting with family and the community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings,\u201d the UNESCO listing continues.\u00a0“Beyond cooking, practitioners view the element as a way of caring for oneself and others, expressing love and rediscovering one\u2019s cultural roots. It also strengthens bonds, encourages sharing, and promotes a sense of belonging.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ways to experience Italian cuisine with Trafalgar <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Connecting with locals is at the heart of every Trafalgar tour, whether\u00a0that\u2019s with their history, their culture, or their family \u2013 and food is always at the center of this. On every itinerary you\u2019ll\u00a0find\u00a0a\u00a0Be My Guest<\/a>\u00a0experience, 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond that we also feature\u00a0MAKE TRAVEL MATTER<\/a>\u00a0\u00ae\u00a0Experiences\u00a0on our tours.\u00a0Using a proprietary assessment tool endorsed by industry experts and developed exclusively for Trafalgar, these experiences are assessed against a\u202frobust set of criteria directly tied to the\u202fUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>\u202f(SDGs).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wherever you travel with Trafalgar,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0meet passionate locals, support their\u00a0craft\u00a0and culture, and\u00a0hear their stories firsthand \u2013\u00a0all while breaking bread and bonding over the dinner table.\u00a0Discover our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER\u00ae\u00a0and Be My Guest Experiences unique to Italy below.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our Italian culinary experiences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taste the Cinque Family’s famous risotto at Villa Toscanini\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Meet Ricardo, your host at Villa Toscanini<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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As you jet across the tranquil Make Maggiore in Northern Italy,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0eventually reach\u00a0the secluded Isola\u00a0dei\u00a0Pescatori, the smallest of\u00a0the lake\u2019s\u00a0three islands. Here the Cinque family welcome\u00a0you\u00a0into their historic home, Villa Toscanini\u00a0for a special Be My Guest experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inspiring house\u00a0is more than 100 years old and\u00a0was once the hideaway of great Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, one of the most influential musicians of the 19th century.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet your host Ricardo,\u00a0who will regale you with stories of this beautiful villa,\u00a0his father Fabio behind the bar, and his\u00a0uncles\u00a0Stephane and Massimiliano\u00a0in the kitchen, who will be busy cooking up a storm for you to enjoy\u00a0\u2013 guests will never forget the taste of their legendary\u00a0risotto alla Milanese (a Lombardy classic made with saffron).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on:\u00a0Northern Italy Including Cinque Terre<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Enjoy a Chianti and olive oil tasting with the Lenzi Family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Meet the Lenzi family in Tuscany<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A\u00a0nice Chianti\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just for Hannibal Lecter \u2013\u00a0this Be My Guest experience\u00a0will introduce you to the Lenzi family at their\u00a0Tuscan wine estate,\u00a0Fattoria\u00a0di\u00a0Petroio,\u00a0overlooking the rolling Chianti Hills.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owned by the Pallini-Lenzi family since the 1800s,\u00a0learn how they produce some of the region\u2019s best Chianti on the 15-hectare vineyard, as well as tasting their homegrown olive oil.\u00a0You\u2019ll\u00a0be fed as well as watered \u2013\u00a0their daughter Diana is a trained chef, so the food\u00a0is just as much a star of the show as the wine.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on:\u00a0Wonders of Italy<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dine on a Family-Owned Lemon Farm Overlooking Mount Etna <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Discover the draw of Sicilian citrus<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Find out why Sicilian citrus is world-renowned when you meet your Be My Guest host Daniela on her family-owned farm.\u00a0You\u2019ll\u00a0become 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on:\u00a0Best of Italy and Sicily<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meet Signor Luciano for seasonal dinner in Alberobello<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Learn about the fairytale Puglian town of Alberobello<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on: Grand Italian Experience<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walk through olive groves with the\u00a0Callistri\u00a0Family at their Borgo\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 and Tuscany has plenty.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just outside\u00a0the medieval spa town of Montecatini,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0find the\u00a0Borgo della\u00a0Limonaia\u00a0farmhouse, home to the\u00a0Callistri\u00a0family\u00a0who\u00a0have owned this estate since\u00a01700\u00a0\u2013 your Be My Guest hosts.\u00a0Today they still produce red wine and olive oil,\u00a0which\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0get to try, alongside a\u00a0homemade Italian\u00a0meal. After, take a\u00a0leisurely walk through their olive groves and lemon orchards\u00a0to learn more about their beautiful Tuscan home.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on: Italy Bellissimo<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dine with the Miari Fulcis Family at Maiano Societa Agricola <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Count Francesco Miari Fulcis (left) welcomes you to Fattoria Di Maiano<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Brand new for 2026!\u00a0<\/em> Enjoy a slice of nobility\u00a0as your Be My Guest experience takes to you the 15th century olive oil estate of Count Miari\u00a0Fulcis\u00a0in Tuscany. While the estate used to be home to\u00a0some of Tuscany\u2019s brightest stars during the Italian Renaissance, today\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0known for olive oil and honey.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a look around the medieval cloister and gardens before settling in for an aperitif and tasting of the estate\u2019s finest olive oils. As the sun sets, you\u2019ll enjoy a regional feast surrounded by local stories and flavors. Though it\u2019s a working estate, it might look familiar \u2013 it was the filming location for James Ivory’s Oscar-winning A Room with a View <\/em>(1987) and Franco Zeffirelli’s Tea with Mussolini <\/em>(1999). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on:\u00a0Real Italy<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taste the finest Modena Balsamic Vinegar\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Discover why Modena balsamic vinegar has a protected designation of origin (DOP)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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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\u00ae Experience you\u2019ll uncover the traditions behind Modena balsamic vinegar.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a historic, traditional acetaia (where traditional balsamic vinegar is made), dive into a tasting of some of the world\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on:\u00a0Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dine in a medieval Tower House with the Landi Family\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Meet Giada Landi at her 18th century Tuscan villa<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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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\u00a0of vineyards and olive groves, your wonderful host Giada Landi and her family have transformed the villa into one of Trafalgar\u2019s most beloved Be My Guest experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giada is the head of the household, head of the family business, and a cook and\u00a0hostess\u00a0extraordinaire to boot \u2013 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\u00a0acres of the property are vineyards, used to make the wine\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0drink, and more than 600 olive trees near the house make the family\u2019s olive oil that\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on:\u00a0Italian Concerto<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn the traditions of the\u00a0Serenelli\u00a0Family at their Organic Farm\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meet some furry friends on this Be My Guest experience in Lombardy, where you\u2019ll 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<\/sup> century. Meet the farm animals and hear from Anna how the farm played a part in Napoleon\u2019s Battle of Solferino, before enjoying a hearty Lombardy meal like risotto or polenta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience it on: Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discover authentic Italian cuisine on <\/em>Trafalgar tours to Italy<\/em><\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Put down the spaghetti and pass the prosecco \u2013\u00a0Italy\u00a0has become the\u00a0first country to be awarded\u00a0UNESCO\u00a0recognition for\u00a0its\u00a0national cuisine.\u00a0We\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think it was possible, but Italian cuisine is more on the map than it ever has been before. Of course, this isn\u2019t the first time Italian food has been recognized; the art of Neapolitan \u2018Pizzaiuolo\u2019 and truffle hunting are already on UNESCO’s list of “intangible […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":885698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4909],"tags":[1461,201,210,37,23246,249],"class_list":["post-885689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-stories","tag-be-my-guest","tag-europe","tag-food","tag-italy","tag-make-travel-matteer","tag-unesco"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nItalian Cuisine Is Officially the Best In the World - 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