Italian food by region
Italy has 20 regions, and each cooks differently. Here are the signature dishes, cheeses, cured meats and wines of every one.
Italian regionAbruzzoAbruzzo is a mountainous central region known for lamb skewers, guitar-cut pasta and saffron from the Navelli plain.Italian regionAosta ValleyThe Aosta Valley is Italy's smallest region, an Alpine valley famous for Fontina cheese, polenta and rich mountain soups.Italian regionBasilicataBasilicata is a rugged southern region known for crusco peppers, peperoncino, Matera bread and lucanica sausage.Italian regionCalabriaCalabria, the toe of Italy's boot, is famous for fiery 'nduja, Tropea red onions, bergamot and chili-spiked cooking.Italian regionCampaniaCampania is the home of Neapolitan pizza, buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes and dried pasta from Gragnano.Italian regionEmilia-RomagnaEmilia-Romagna is often called Italy's food capital — home of Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar and fresh egg pasta.Italian regionFriuli Venezia GiuliaFriuli Venezia Giulia, in Italy's northeast, blends Italian, Austrian and Slovenian cooking and makes prosciutto di San Daniele.Italian regionLazioLazio is the region around Rome, the source of carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana and gricia.Italian regionLiguriaLiguria is the Italian Riviera, home of pesto alla genovese, focaccia and trofie pasta.Italian regionLombardyLombardy, the region around Milan, is known for risotto alla milanese, ossobuco and cheeses like Gorgonzola and Grana Padano.Italian regionMarcheMarche, on the central Adriatic, is known for stuffed fried olives all'ascolana, vincisgrassi and brodetto fish stew.Italian regionMoliseMolise is one of Italy's smallest and least-visited regions, known for sheep-farming food, cavatelli and caciocavallo.Italian regionPiedmontPiedmont, in Italy's northwest, is famous for white truffles, Barolo wine, agnolotti and vitello tonnato.Italian regionPugliaPuglia, the heel of Italy, is known for orecchiette, burrata, olive oil and durum-wheat bread from Altamura.Italian regionSardiniaSardinia is a Mediterranean island with its own pastas — malloreddus and culurgiones — plus pecorino and roasted suckling pig.Italian regionSicilySicily, Italy's largest island, mixes Greek, Arab and Spanish influences in dishes like arancini, caponata, pasta alla Norma and cannoli.Italian regionTrentino-Alto AdigeTrentino-Alto Adige is an Alpine region whose German-speaking south Tyrol makes speck, canederli dumplings and apple strudel.Italian regionTuscanyTuscany is known for bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, pici pasta and Chianti wine.Italian regionUmbriaUmbria, Italy's 'green heart', is known for black truffles, Norcia pork butchery, lentils from Castelluccio and strangozzi pasta.Italian regionVenetoVeneto, the region around Venice, is known for risotto, polenta, bigoli, tiramisù and Prosecco.