Cuisine

Most staples of the Italian diet have already become favorites in America, but on your tour, try those less familiar pasta sauces and the vast range of cured hams, cheeses, rustic breads and desserts. In Italy, the cuisine varies by region. Venice and Northern Italy are known for their meats and pastries, Tuscany for its wine, oil and sauces, Rome and Southern Italy for their pizzas. For more authentic meals, try local trattorias—small restaurants set away from the main piazzas and squares.

Italians tend to indulge in long, boisterous meals featuring wines and the occasional beer, followed by the requisite after-dinner drinks grappa or limoncello. American- or English-style bars and pubs are not as common, although they can be found in major cities and currently gaining in popularity, especially in Northern Italy and in Rome.