Editing Tourism in Italy (section)

===Food and wine tourism===
{{further|Italian cuisine|Italian wine|Italian meal structure}}
[[File:Espaguetis carbonara.jpg|thumb|''[[Spaghetti]] alla [[carbonara]]'']]
[[File:Salumi e vino lucchese.JPG|thumb|[[Italian wine]] and ''[[salumi]]'']]
[[File:Tiramisu - Raffaele Diomede.jpg|thumb|''[[Tiramisu]]'']]
[[File:Antica trattoria Bagutto.jpg|thumb|The [[Antica trattoria Bagutto]] in Milan, the oldest restaurant in Italy and the second in Europe.<ref name="localistorici"/>]]
[[Italian cuisine]] is one of the best known and most appreciated [[Gastronomy|gastronomies]] worldwide.<ref>For example, in 2019, the American network [[CNN]] ranked first in a ranking of the best cuisines in the world; see: {{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/world-best-food-cultures/index.html|title=Which country has the best food?|date=12 July 2017 |access-date=14 November 2021}}. According to a survey conducted by the British company of [[Marketing research|market analysis]] YouGov, out of 24 countries, was the most internationally appreciated gastronomy with 84% of total preferences; see: {{Cite web|url=https://it.yougov.com/news/2019/03/12/la-cucina-italiana-votata-come-la-migliore-cucina-/|title=Sondaggio YouGov:l'84% delle persone nel mondo preferisce la cucina italiana|access-date=14 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> Italian cuisine includes deeply rooted traditions common to the whole country, as well as all the [[Regions of Italy|regional]] gastronomies, different from each other, especially between [[Northern Italy|the north]] and [[Southern Italy|the south]] of Italy, which is in continuous exchange.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|author=Related Articles |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/718430/Italian-cuisine |title=Italian cuisine |encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |publisher=Britannica.com |date=2 January 2009 |access-date=24 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indigoguide.com/italy/food.htm |title=Italian Food – Italy's Regional Dishes & Cuisine |publisher=Indigoguide.com |access-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102020059/http://www.indigoguide.com/italy/food.htm |archive-date=2 January 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rusticocooking.com/regions.htm |title=Regional Italian Cuisine |publisher=Rusticocooking.com |access-date=24 April 2010}}</ref> Many dishes that were once regional have proliferated with variations throughout the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.viedelgusto.it/piccola-storia-della-cucina-italiana/|title=Cronistoria della cucina italiana|access-date=13 November 2021|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/scoperta-e-invenzione-della-cucina-regionale_%28L%27Italia-e-le-sue-Regioni%29/|title=Piatti regionali a diffusione nazionale|access-date=13 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> Italian cuisine offers an abundance of taste, and is one of the most popular and copied around the world.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13760559 |title=How pasta became the world's favourite food |publisher=BBC |date=15 June 2011 |access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> Italy is the world's [[Italian wine|largest producer of wine]], as well as the country with the widest variety of indigenous [[Vitis|grapevine]] varieties in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.inumeridelvino.it/2018/11/la-produzione-di-vino-nel-mondo-2018-prima-stima-oiv.html|title=L'Italia è il maggiore produttore di vino|date=25 November 2018 |access-date=11 November 2021|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://giornalevinocibo.com/2017/06/03/italia-prima-assoluta-per-vitgni-autoctoni-ecco-i-dati-dei-vari-stati/|title=L'Italia è il paese con più vitigni autoctoni al mondo|date=3 June 2017|access-date=11 November 2021|language=it}}</ref>

One of the main characteristics of Italian cuisine is its simplicity, with many dishes made up of few ingredients, and therefore Italian cooks often rely on the quality of the ingredients, rather than the complexity of preparation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://it.latuaitalia.ru/food-n-wine/intervista-esclusiva-allo-chef-carlo-cracco-la-cucina-e-cultura/|title=Intervista esclusiva allo chef Carlo Cracco: "La cucina è cultura"|access-date=5 January 2020|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.incibum.it/storia-della-cucina-italiana/|title=Storia della cucina italiana: le tappe della nostra cultura culinaria|date=25 May 2019|access-date=5 January 2020|language=it}}</ref> The most popular dishes and recipes, over the centuries, have often been created by ordinary people more so than by [[chef]]s, which is why many Italian recipes are suitable for home and daily [[cooking]], respecting regional specificities, privileging only raw materials and ingredients from the region of origin of the dish and preserving its seasonality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cibo360.it/cucina/mondo/cucina_italiana.htm|title=Individualità territoriale e stagionalità nella cucina italiana|access-date=5 January 2020|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gqitalia.it/lifestyle/food-drinks/2016/12/02/le-5-regole-fondamentali-della-cucina-italiana|title=Regole e stagionalità della cucina italiana|date=2 December 2016|access-date=5 January 2020|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sololibri.net/Le-ricette-della-nonna-Alla.html|title=Nonne come chef|access-date=5 January 2020|language=it}}</ref>

[[Italian meal structure]] is typical of the [[Mediterranean Basin|European Mediterranean]] region and differs from North, Central, and Eastern European meal structure, though it still often consists of [[breakfast]] (''colazione''), [[lunch]] (''pranzo''), and [[supper]] (''cena'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.studiare-in-italia.it/php5/study-italy.php?idorizz=5&idvert=62|title=Mangiare all'italiana|access-date=12 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> However, much less emphasis is placed on breakfast, and breakfast itself is often skipped or involves lighter meal portions than are seen in non-Mediterranean Western countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/news/in-primo-piano/colazioni-strane-nel-mondo/|title=Colazioni da incubo in giro per il mondo|date=29 March 2016|access-date=12 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> Late-morning and mid-afternoon snacks, called ''[[merenda]]'' (plural ''merende''), are also often included in this meal structure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/cook/news/cards/merenda-abitudine-tutta-italiana-cinque-ricette-salutari-tutta-famiglia/merenda-come-deve-essere_principale.shtml|title=Merenda, una abitudine tutta italiana: cinque ricette salutari per tutta la famiglia|date=12 August 2021 |access-date=12 November 2021|language=it}}</ref>

The [[Mediterranean diet]] forms the basis of Italian cuisine, rich in [[pasta]], fish, fruits and vegetables.<ref>The Silver Spoon {{ISBN|88-7212-223-6}}, 1997 ed.</ref> [[List of Italian cheeses|Cheese]], [[salumi|cold cuts]] and [[Italian wine|wine]] are central to Italian cuisine, and along with [[pizza]] and [[coffee]] (especially [[espresso]]) form part of Italian [[gastronomic]] culture.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Lee |title=Italian coffee culture: a guide |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/6246202/Italian-coffee-culture-a-guide.html |access-date=5 September 2013 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=30 September 2009|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010212148/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/6246202/Italian-coffee-culture-a-guide.html |archive-date=10 October 2013}}</ref> Desserts have a long tradition of merging local flavours such as [[citrus fruits]], [[pistachio]] and [[almonds]] with sweet cheeses like [[mascarpone]] and [[ricotta]] or exotic tastes as cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon. [[Gelato]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Jewkes |first=Stephen |title=World's first museum about gelato culture opens in Italy |url=http://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/world-s-first-museum-about-gelato-culture-opens-in-italy-1.15866 |access-date=5 September 2013 |newspaper=[[Times Colonist]] |date=13 October 2012|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062518/http://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/world-s-first-museum-about-gelato-culture-opens-in-italy-1.15866 |archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> [[tiramisù]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Squires |first=Nick |title=Tiramisu claimed by Treviso |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10261930/Tiramisu-claimed-by-Treviso.html |access-date=5 September 2013 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 August 2013|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829091009/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10261930/Tiramisu-claimed-by-Treviso.html |archive-date=29 August 2013}}</ref> and [[cassata]] are among the most famous examples of Italian desserts, cakes and patisserie.

Italian cuisine relies heavily on traditional products; the country has a large number of [[List of Italian products with protected designation of origin|traditional specialities]] protected under [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union|EU law]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Keane |first=John |title=Italy leads the way with protected products under EU schemes |url=http://www.bordbia.ie/industryservices/information/alerts/Pages/ItalyleadsthewaywithprotectedproductsunderEUschemes.aspx |publisher=[[Bord Bia]] |access-date=5 September 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329075250/http://www.bordbia.ie/industryservices/information/alerts/Pages/ItalyleadsthewaywithprotectedproductsunderEUschemes.aspx |archive-date=29 March 2014}}</ref> From the 1950s onwards, a great variety of typical products of Italian cuisine have been [[List of Italian products with protected designation of origin|recognized as PDO, PGI, TSG and GI]] by the [[Council of the European Union]], to which they are added to the ''[[Indicazione geografica tipica]]'' (IGT), the [[Regions of Italy|regional]] {{lang|it|[[Prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali]]}} (PAT) and the [[Comune|municipal]] ''[[Denominazione comunale d'origine]]'' (De.C.O.).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/309|title=Lista dei prodotti italiani riconosciuti come: DOP, IGP, STG, IG e PAT|access-date=29 November 2021|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arsacweb.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/20-De.Co_..pdf|title=Lista dei prodotti italiani riconosciuti come: De.CO|access-date=29 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> In the [[Oenology|oenological]] field, there are specific legal protections: the ''[[Denominazione di origine controllata]]'' (DOC) and the ''[[Denominazione di origine controllata#Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG)|Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita]]'' (DOCG).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.webfoodculture.com/vini-doc-docg-prima-parte/|title=DOC e DOCG in Italia|access-date=29 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> [[Protected designation of origin]] (PDO) and [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union|Protected Geographical Indications]] (PGI) have also been established in olive growing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cittadellolio.it/2019/07/23/olio-dop-e-igp-in-italia/|title=Oli DOP e IGP in Italia|access-date=29 November 2021|language=it}}</ref>

Milan is home to the oldest restaurant in Italy and the second in Europe, the [[Antica trattoria Bagutto]], which has existed since at least 1284.<ref name="localistorici">{{Cite web|url=http://www.localistorici.it/it/Schede/view/tipo/locali-storici/categorie/per-anno-di-fondazione_1200-1299/slug/antica-trattoria-bagutto|title=Antica trattoria Bagutto|access-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130430180217/http://www.localistorici.it/it/Schede/view/tipo/locali-storici/categorie/per-anno-di-fondazione_1200-1299/slug/antica-trattoria-bagutto|archive-date=30 April 2013|language=it}}</ref> The cuisine is therefore often a reason for tourism in the peninsula, perhaps combined with one or more reasons previously described.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://winenews.it/it/cibus-tour-e-city-tour-proposta-integrata-di-promozione_287939/|title=CIBUS TOUR E CITY TOUR, PROPOSTA INTEGRATA DI PROMOZIONE DEL TERRITORIO: IL TEATRO SARA' PARMA (7/10 NOVEMBRE)|date=November 2002 |access-date=28 December 2021|language=it}}</ref> There are countless food festivals and fairs spread throughout the area, from small agricultural centres to large metropolises.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.conoscounposto.com/sagre-in-lombardia-e-piemonte-10-appuntamenti-per-lautunno-2021/|title=Sagre in Lombardia e Piemonte: 10 appuntamenti per l'autunno 2021|date=16 September 2021 |access-date=28 December 2021|language=it}}</ref> The hospitality sector is slowly updating by including cultural food and wine elements in its offer to tourists, both in traditional hotels and in specially created structures such as [[agritourism]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/lifestyle/tempo-libero/soggiorni-gourmet-in-lombardia-5-indirizzi-immersi-nel-verde/|title=Soggiorni gourmet in Lombardia, 5 indirizzi immersi nel verde|date=8 July 2020 |access-date=28 December 2021|language=it}}</ref> In 2018 the food and wine expenditure by foreign tourists amounted to 9.23 billion euros, with an average expenditure of 117 euros each.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coldiretti.it/economia/turismo-14-spesa-stranieri-al-ristorante|title=Banca d'Italia turismo internazionale, 1/4 della spesa stranieri al ristorante|access-date=26 July 2019|language=it}}</ref>