Italy is a beautiful country, full of art, culture, history, and beautiful landscapes. Also worth highlighting are its incredible traditional dishes and unique flavors, which have been passed down from generation to generation.
Italian cuisine is one of the most recognized in the world, which is why more and more tourists are interested in taking a culinary tour through the country’s different regions.
Every small town and city contains new flavors to discover and delicious dishes to sample. Tasting the most iconic dishes of Italy lets visitors catch a glimpse of the country’s soul, traditions, and customs.
In this article, we’ll review the best Italian culinary routes. If you’re considering taking a food tour while staying in Italy, this information could make all the difference to your trip. So let’s get started!
Trastevere (Rome)
We start with the country’s capital city. Most tourists who travel to Italy for the first time visit Rome to see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and many other sites of historical and cultural interest.
But the city has more to offer, including countless places to discover and taste the region’s excellent food. In this article, we will focus on the Trastevere neighborhood.
Trastevere is one of the most authentic, beautiful neighborhoods in Rome; among its cobblestone streets and many craft stores, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in the city, making it a must-stop on any food tour in Italy.
The best restaurants in the neighborhood are Da Enzo al 29, La Prosciutteria, Tonarello, Dar Poeta, Grazia e Graziella, and Cajo e Gajo.
Among the delicacies offered by these restaurants are Roman pizza, suppli, and pasta carbonara, among many others. Pasta alla Carbonara is one of the most emblematic dishes of Roman cuisine, a type of long pasta served with Pecorino, Parmesan, or Romano cheese, bacon, olive oil, and black pepper.
Genoa
Genovese cuisine is basic yet delicious, made with simple ingredients that come from the sea and the mountains. Most dishes are heavily seasoned with spices and herbs.
Genoa’s traditional dishes are sure to surprise you. Pine nuts, anchovies, mushrooms, and cuttlefish are some of the city’s most traditional ingredients and tell the story of the sailors who trawled the sea, the farmers who harvested the vegetables and herbs, and the merchants who put the city on the map.
Some of Genoa’s restaurants that we recommend visiting on your gastronomic tour are Trattoria Rosmarino, Strakkino, Trattoria da Maria, Zimino, Mangiabuono, Gran Ristoro, Il Masetto, and Antica Friggitoria Carega. The region’s most traditional dishes include pesto, fried anchovies, farinata, focaccia, trippa, cima, and vegetable cake.
Naples
A vibrant and chaotic city, Naples is ideal for eating while strolling, and street food is the order of the day – some of the best street food in Italy, as it happens.
Among the small and noisy streets of the historic center, you can see several beautiful churches, visit some of the city’s many museums, and stop for a bite to eat in one of the town center’s many stalls.
Some classic dishes which you should try while in Naples are cuoppo, baba, and pizza a portafoglio.
Florence
Florence is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in Italy due to its picturesque streets and enchanting atmosphere. It is also full of history, including works of art such as the David, the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, and many other sites of cultural interest.
There is so much to do and see in the Tuscan capital, and excellent meals need to be factored into your plan. Make sure to visit some of the city’s cozy and delicious trattorias to taste its most traditional dishes, such as Florentine steak, ribollita and pappa al pomodoro, panzanella, Pappardelle with hare sauce, bisteca alla fiorentina, stracotto, tagliata with rucola, and many others. And make room for some of the region’s delicious desserts, such as schiacciata alla fiorentina and cantuccini with vin santo.
As for the best restaurants in town, our recommendations include Cibreo, Trattoria Da Burde, Trippaio del Porcellino, Babae, Da’Vinattieri, Osteria Cipolla Rossa, Osteria Nuvoli and Trattoria Coco Lezzone.
Venice
The capital of Veneto is one of the most beautiful places in the world for a gastronomic tour. Venice enchants all-comers; it is a city like no other, with its extraordinary streets that form narrow water passages crisscrossed by ornate bridges; and its delicious cuisine.
There’s nothing like sipping a typical Venetian appetizer at sunset, watching the sky fill with orange and pink colors over the water. We recommend sampling a Spritz or cicchetto, two of the most popular local appetizers, in one of the city’s many traditional bars.
The most delicious local dishes we can recommend include Venetian shrimps and clams, pincia, baicoli, baccala mantecato, risotto al nero di seppia, fritole venessiane, fegato alla venezia, baicoli, risi and bisi, sarde in saor and bigoli salsa.
The best restaurants in Venice in which to sample these delicacies are Osteria Alla Staffa, Osteria al Ponte, Rossopomodoro Venezia, Ca Dolfin, and Da Mamo. To end the evening on a high, check out the ice creams served at I Tre Mercanti and Suso Gelatoteca.
Thus concludes our review of the best gastronomic tours in Italy; we hope this information is helpful as you plan your trip!
