When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that's amore - see, it’s right there in the song! Food equals love in Italy. So join us on a tour of Italy as we stop off in several different spots and enjoy the meals that made us fall in love with this amazing country.

 

Italy is known for many amazing things: architecture, art, and wine; but perhaps what it’s best known for is the food. And it’s not just us who think this, according to Forbes, Italian is the most popular worldwide cuisine. We’ve selected just some of the many iconic dishes featured throughout Italy, so you bring the fork (and your Trtl Pillow), and we’ll bring the food inspo.

 

Messina

Located in northeastern Sicily, Messina is a gorgeous city known for its arancini. Thought to have been created in the 10th century, when Sicily was under Arab rule, these incredibly delicious fried balls of rice are stuffed with all manner of flavors and ingredients. The perfect bite to grab and go, you cannot miss out on arancini when you visit Sicily.

 

Naples

Home to the iconic Pizza Margherita, this classic dish has a regal backstory. Allegedly named after Queen Margherita when she sampled it in Naples, this simple pizza features the colors of the Italian flag; mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. A classic for a reason, we couldn’t not mention this staple.

 

Milan

If you head to the gorgeous city of Milan, the one dish you can’t miss out on is the Risotto alla Milanese. The story goes that this dish was a result of an experimental painter who wanted to impress his dinner guests and added saffron (normally used to color his paints) to the risotto to create a bright yellow hue. This saffron-infused rice dish remains a classic and will brighten up any lunch!

 

Rome

We’re not exaggerating when we say that carbonara may be one of the most loved dishes to come from Italy. But this dish, born in Rome, couldn’t be simpler; eggs, guanciale, pecorino and pasta - a heavenly combination! And yes, you may have tried this before, but this dish deserves to be enjoyed in its city of origin.

 

Florence

The Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a Tuscan staple. Often a large cut of T-bone steak,  well-browned on the outside and rare on the inside, it can be shared with friends and family (in true Tuscan fashion). Buttery flavor that melts in the mouth, it would be a huge misteak to miss out on this steak.

Venice

Bigoli in Salsa is a must-order in Venice. In between exploring the canals and bridges stop in to a restaurant and order this simple but delightful pasta dish. Cooked with onions and anchovies, this meal pairs perfectly with white wine and people-watching. 

 

Treviso

After all these incredible dishes, we have to end with something sweet. And born in the town of Treviso, is one of the most iconic and delicious desserts - the tiramisu! Layered deliciousness of ladyfingers soaked in espresso, mascarpone, eggs, and cocoa powder; this aphrodisiac of a dish is the perfect way to round off our tour across Italy.