Italy is famous for its art, architecture, wine and food. The last of these is in fact a favourite around the world. Some form of Italian cuisine can be found in almost every country you visit. Rich dishes, made with simple ingredients, Italian food is all about wholesome cooking and eating. However, no matter how many pizzas you’ve wolfed down or pastas you’ve sampled, there is simply no denying that nothing will ever taste as good as an authentic Italian dish eaten right in its place of origin. In fact, it may taste very different from what you have tried in your home country as local preferences usually lead to altered flavors. Nevertheless, these are the top 5 dishes you simply must try during your Italy tour packages.

Pizza:

Depending on which city or region in Italy you are in, the type of pizza you get can be slightly different. In Rome, for example, the pizza base is extremely thin and crisp, and often served almost charred with the cheese and other toppings put on the base and served fresh, with little to no additional baking. Pizza Bianca which literally means ‘white pizza’ is quite popular in Rome and uses a foccacia type of pizza bread tends to be fluffy and salty with just the right amount of crispness.

Gelato:

Gelato is the version of ice cream and is available in almost flavour imaginable. These cold and sweet treats mostly include dairy, but the non-dairy version called sorbets are equally popular. You can buy them in special gelato shops called gelatarias and their texture is much lighter than that of traditional ice cream. Whether you get yours in a freshly baked cone or a cup, they make for a perfect post-meal dessert or a wonderful snack to savour as you’re sightseeing.

Pasta Carbonara:

The carbonara sauce that goes into the Pasta Carbonara is simply superb. It includes egg, bacon and white wine. While most carbonara recipes call for cream, as you will find during your Italy tour packages, the Italians omit the cream. Served with rigatoni or spaghetti, this beautiful and scrumptious pasta dish will have you asking for seconds every single time.

Fritti:

Fritti means ‘fried food’ and there are a number of options that you can enjoy. From salted cod called baccala to zucchini flowers called ‘fiori di zucca’ you will love the crunchy, rich goodness of these dishes. One particular fritti specialty that you must try is ‘suppli’ which refers to fried rice balls. Oh so indulgent, and oh so divine-tasting!

There’s just so many more amazing dishes that you can try in Italy that even books and books of lists and descriptions would not suffice. Make sure to try these four dishes and anything else that catches your fancy – you will definitely not regret it!