Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Plan Your Trip
Eat & Drink Like a Local
Gastronomy is one of Italy's raisons d'être. The country is like an all-
year Christmas stocking, overstuffed with superlative produce and
culinary know-how. Locals are fiercely proud of their regions' special-
ities, and devouring them is an essential part of any Italian sojourn.
The Year in Food
While
sagre
(local food festivals) go into overdrive in autumn, there's never a bad time to raise your
fork in Italy. For specific details on food events see
Click here
.
Spring (Mar-May)
Asparagus, artichokes and Easter specialities, plus a handful of festivals like Turin's Cioccolatò and
Ascoli Piceno's Fritto Misto all'Italiana.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Aubergines, peppers and berries. Tuck into tuna at Carloforte's Girotonno tuna catch in June and beat
the heat with gelato and Sicilian granita.
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Food festivals, chestnuts, mushrooms and game. Truffle hunters head to Piedmont, Tuscany and Um-
bria while wine connoisseurs hit Elba's wine harvest and Merano's wine festival.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Christmas and Carnevale treats. Fishers serve up sea urchins and mussels on Sardinia's Poetto beach,
while Umbria celebrates black truffles with the Mostra Mercato del Tartufo Nero.
