Italian cuisine and UNESCO recognition: intangible heritage and places

Why Italian cuisine is recognised by UNESCO

Italian culinary culture goes beyond recipes: it encompasses skills, artisanal techniques, social rituals and communal practices. In 2017, the art of the Neapolitan pizzaiolo was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting the cultural value of food-related know-how.

Where to experience culinary heritage

To grasp the connection between food and place, visit areas where traditions, landscape and production meet. Practical examples in Italy:

• Naples: home to historic pizzerias, workshops and schools that preserve pizza-making techniques.
• Vineyard landscapes (Langhe, Roero and Monferrato): UNESCO-listed territories where wine cultivation shapes landscape, production and local culture.
• Local markets: ideal for observing seasonality, product biodiversity and traditional commerce.
• Cooking schools and workshops: hands-on activities to learn artisanal bread-making, preserves, winemaking and other regional skills.

Practical tips for visitors

• Book ahead: many tours and workshops require reservations; check schedules and availability.
• Respect seasonality: authentic flavours follow the local production calendar.
• Join guided experiences: cellar visits, market tours and practical classes explain the link between territory and tradition.
• Check UNESCO listings: knowing which elements are recognised helps understand why places are protected.

Travel responsibly

Visiting Italian culinary heritage means engaging with passed-down techniques, cultivated landscapes and community stories. Support local producers, respect traditions and choose activities that promote conservation of intangible heritage and UNESCO-protected cultural landscapes.