The best food in Southern Italy: discover the local cuisine (2024)

This guide will introduce you to thebest food Southern Italy has to offer, from the bustling streets of Naples to the picturesque coastline of Amalfi. This is our guide to the best food in Southern Italy.

Iconic dishes of Southern Italy

Each dish is a story of tradition, innovation, and passion. You can try the famed Tiella, a rice dish from Bari, or explore the other culinary delights that not only offer a taste of the region's history but also reflect thelocal culture and lifestyle.

• Pizza Napoletana:A symbol of Neapolitan cuisine, this pizza features a soft, thin crust with toppings like San Marzano tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. Experience it in its birthplace for an authentic taste. The art of its preparation and the strict guidelines on ingredients like the mozzarella di bufala Campana, elevate this dish to a cultural icon.
• Mozzarella di Bufala Campana:Enjoy the creamy and delicate flavours of this cheese, produced from the milk of water buffaloes in Campania and Lazio. It's perfect with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil. This cheese is not just a staple in Italian kitchens but also enjoys a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, ensuring its quality and authenticity.
• Seafood Delicacies:Savour the freshness of seafood from the Amalfi Coast, including dishes like spaghetti alle vongole and grilled octopus. The proximity of the region to the sea ensures that the seafood is always fresh, playing a significant role in the local diet and culture.
• Cannoli:Indulge in this Sicilian dessert, a crispy pastry shell filled with sweet ricotta and often garnished with pistachios or chocolate chips. Originating from Sicily, cannoli are a testament to the region's Arab influences and have become beloved across the world.

Regional culinary hotspots

Each Italian region offers unique flavours and unforgettable dining experiences, making it a true paradise for food lovers.

Naples

The vibrant street-food scene in Naples captivates both locals and tourists alike. Trying the local pizza is of course a must as it isa culinary masterpiece that has gained worldwide acclaim. The city's bustling pizzerias and quaint eateries offer an authentic taste of this iconic dish, cooked to perfection in wood-fired ovens.

Puglia

Eating in Puglia is a delight for food lovers, featuring fresh, local ingredients. The region is known for its olive oil, hearty pastas like orecchiette, and seafood dishes. Traditional foods include focaccia, burrata cheese, and grilled vegetables. Puglia's cuisine also boasts rich, flavorful wines and unique pastries such as pasticciotto and cartellate.

Calabria

Eating in Calabria is a feast of bold flavors and regional specialties. The cuisine is known for its spicy dishes, featuring ingredients like 'nduja (a spicy spreadable salami), fresh seafood, and robust cheeses such as pecorino. Calabrian cuisine includes hearty pasta dishes, rich tomato sauces, and locally grown vegetables. The region also offers distinctive wines and sweet treats like tartufo gelato.

Sicily

Sicily is an island rich in history and character, and it offers a culinary palette that is as diverse as its past. Influences from Arab and Norman invasions have woven a complex tapestry of flavours into the local cuisine. Dishes such as sardine pasta or "pasta c'a munnizza", arancini, caponata, and the sweet delight of cannoli, showcase the island's ability to blend sweet and savoury flavours seamlessly.

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Traditional Cooking Techniques

Gain insight into the traditional cooking methods that are the backbone of Southern Italian cuisine. These techniques, passed down through generations, are fundamental in creating the authentic flavours that define this region's food culture.

• Woodfire cookingis more than just a technique; it's a tradition that imparts a distinct smoky flavour to dishes, particularly essential for creating an authentic Pizza Napoletana. The high heat and quick cooking time allow the pizza to retain its moisture and flavour, making it a staple in Neapolitan cuisine.
• Cheese makingin Campania is an art form centred around mozzarella di bufala. This exquisite cheese, known for its soft texture and rich flavours, is made from the milk of water buffaloes that are native to the region. The process involves curdling the milk, then pulling and stretching it to achieve the perfect consistency before it is sold fresh in markets across the region.
• Seafood preparationalong the coastal areas of Southern Italy showcases the region's mastery in handling seafood. Traditional methods such as grilling over open flames or cooking it lightly with olive oil, garlic, and local herbs enhance the seafood's natural flavours, ensuring each dish offers a taste of the Mediterranean Sea.

Where to eat in Southern Italy: restaurants and markets

Southern Italy offers a culinary paradise with its vibrant markets and the exceptional restaurantsare equally as captivating.

Restaurants

• L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Naples is perfect for savouring the iconic regional pizza.
• Osteria del Tempo Perso in Ostuni is where one headsto tasteauthentic Apulian cuisine.
• Il Duomo in Ragusa Ibla offers an exquisite Sicilian dining experience with Chef Ciccio Sultano's Michelin-starred dishes.

Markets

• Mercato di Ballarò in Palermo, Sicily is worth the visitfor fresh seafood, fruits, and local street food.
• Pignasecca Marketin the Municipality of Naples provides a lively atmosphere with an array of cheeses, meats, and pastries.
• Bari's Mercato del Pesce in Bari, Puglia is perfect for seafood lovers.

Festivals and food events in Southern Italy

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Immerse yourself in the vibrant food culture of Southern Italy by participating in local festivals and events. These gatherings are not only a feast for the palate but also offer a deep dive into the traditions and community spirit that shape the region's culinary identity.

• Napoli Pizza Villageis more than just a festival; it's a celebration of Naples' gift to the world—pizza. This event transforms the Naples waterfront into a pizza paradise, with numerous pizzerias setting up to cook their signature dishes in mobile wood-fired ovens. It's an ideal event for pizza lovers to explore variations of authentic Neapolitan pizza and engage with the masters who make it.
• Sagra del Cannolo Sicilianois a festival dedicated to one of Sicily’s most iconic desserts—the cannolo. Held annually, this event allows locals and visitors to indulge in various cannoli, from classic ricotta-filled ones to innovative new flavours. It's a sweet way to experience Sicilian creativity and hospitality.
• Festa della Bruschetta in Pugliacelebrates this simple yet delicious dish made with locally sourced ingredients. At this festival, bruschetta is elevated with the use of freshly baked bread, ripe tomatoes, and high-quality local olive oil. It’s a testament to how Puglian cuisine can turn simple ingredients into extraordinary flavours.

Culinary tours and cooking classes

Dive deeper with tours and classes that offer hands-on experiences with local ingredients and traditional recipes. These activities can transform your understanding of Italian cuisine, a real slice of the local lifestyle to bring back memories, but also skills that you can use to recreate Southern Italian dishes at home.Here’s a closer look at what to expect:

• Immersive experiences: You'll feel like an Italian right at home with these culinary tours and cooking classes, because they tend to be given by locals of the region, sometimes even in someone's home, or an old Italian villa in the countryside.
• Ingredient selection: Participants explore local markets, vineyards, and olive groves, learning to select the finest ingredients.
• Hands-on cooking: Cooking classes willoften be led by seasoned chefs or local nonnas, will very often speak little English, but will instead gesture vividly and sing along to their favoruite classics while they guide you along the preparation of traditional dishes like handmade pasta, seafood specialities, and provincial desserts.
• Popular locations: Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia are particularly popular, offering the produce from their rural landscapes.
• Cultural connection: These tours often include visits to historical sites, tastings at renowned wineries, and dining in authentic trattorias.The experiences are designed to provide a deep cultural connection, highlighting the region's history andtechniques.

Remember, the best food in Southern Italy is not just found in restaurants but also in the passionate hands of those who preserve and teach their culinary traditions. Embrace these opportunities to deepen your connection with Italian cuisine and culture.

Accommodation and housing in Southern Italy

Heading to Southern Italy for a food tour? We're here to help with all of your accommodation needs, including holiday rentals and property for sale if you decide to stay a little longer!

• Find holiday rentals in Southern Italy
• Property for sale in Italy
• Long-term rentals in Italy