Read along as I introduce you to the curiosities and facts that shaped italian culture, the culinary traditions and the recipes.

As well as great tips and information for finding, discovering, buying and tasting authentic products from the World's most favorite Bel Paese.

The Italian Traditions are naturally linked to their places, customs, typical food and traditional recipes throughout Italy, and represent the expression of one of the cultures that has had (and, despite everything, keeps having) a major influence on the lives of so many individuals around the globe.

No matter what the underlying opinion is, everybody I meet seems to agree on at least one point regarding Italians: they (WE!) do seem to think a LOT about eating and their feasts appear legendary, almost a myth!

Admittedly, I then feel a bit startled by some of the comments… this is definitely not JUST about eating.

This runs in the italian traditions and families!

The history of the italian traditions is rich and varied, with a lot of attention reserved to food traditions.

Italians have not simply a relationship with their food, but an indissoluble bond: this is surely to be traced back to when Italy started to develop its “gastronomy” as opposed to an already established set of “nutrition” habits.

But there is more to this, much more.

One that was not aware of the forces and events that shaped and transformed the italian peninsula would probably believe that all over the Nation people are just following a consolidated habit.

This is what italians themselves could sometimes do, unaware, for example, of why they are still following a (much appraised!) “antipasto-primo-secondo-contorno-dessert” sequence when having a meal... this is one of the founding italian traditions!

Knowing italian food traditions is essential to understand a number of other italian traditions: after centuries, different populations have come and gone, others have settled and their descendants are still present, others belong to the past.

But all of them (be sure of it) have left their visible traces: in the language, in the history, in some typical italian products, in the places around the peninsula.

Being Italian, I happened (and do it still today) to travel through my Country, always able to find something new and surprising, still with a decisive flavor of times long past.

I have always been fond of history and research (and of food naturally!), and this is why I decided to share my passion and the direct experience from my peregrinations with all the other fellow passionates who will read my pages.

Italy is (since the past) one of the main destinations for tourists worldwide: when you visit, you want to make the best of your time there and, most of all, you want to be a savvy tourist and “feel” the culture you are immersed in.

If you are interested (as I am) in

• “Tasting” history with some absolutely typical italian food products (and want to learn how to find them)


• More or less known, but authentic italian recipes


• Learning more on the culinary traditions in the various regions of Italy


• My "Italian Cheese-opedia" with a list of the italian cheeses


• Accounts and explanations of original italian proverbs reported in both italian and english language

Cooking lessons and italian recipes from our Family-Cook Maria (my mother in law)!

then visit Italian-Traditions.Com regularly, to read my accounts on the various topics described and have a look at some other insights like

• My personal recommendations on restaurants and places that alone are "worth the trip"


• A Map of Italy to help you navigate through the Bel Paese


• A “mediterranean cruise” on the sea of italian wines (what would food be without wine?!)


• “Not Only Wine” - my personal tribute to all the other non-wine traditional italian drinks


• A non-trivial account of the Italian food history


• Facts and history of some known (and less known) italian customs


• Great italian locations and contacts


• The totally unique big and little things that make Italy Italy

I hope you will join me (and my family, I don't like to travel alone!) as a companion in this journey to and through our italian peninsula.

In the end, I believe that you too will see that there is much more to a dish of italian “spaghetti col pomodoro” than meets the eye and that there is not one single Italy but a number of “Italies”, linked by past times and common traditions.

Ciao,