I've been to all 20 regions in Italy. The whole country has great food, but one region is a step above the rest.

Jul 29, 2026 10:46 PM - 16 hours ago 69

The writer successful a dress, opinionated successful a vineyard successful Modena.

I emotion each portion of Italy, but I'd return to Emilia-Romagna for its delicious nutrient anytime. Kaitlyn Rosati

After visiting each 20 regions of the country, I tin confidently opportunity I'd take to eat anyplace successful Italy complete moreover the champion nutrient cities successful the US. However, Italy isn't one-size-fits-all erstwhile it comes to eating successful la dolce vita.

Each region has niche dishes and products that locals deterioration for illustration a badge of honor. Think: mozzarella di bufala from Campania, pesto alla Genovese from Liguria, and arancini from Sicily.

Although you can't spell incorrect readying a travel to immoderate region, I judge Emilia-Romagna deserves the golden for the best cuisine successful the country.

The region is location to delicious foods for illustration Parmigiano-Reggiano

The writer opinionated astatine a Parmigiano-Romano dairy workplace successful Parma.

This region is location to Parmigiano-Reggiano, among different exports.  Kaitlyn Rosati

From Parmigiano-Reggiano and balsamic vinegar of Modena to Prosciutto di Parma and mortadella from Bologna, Emilia-Romagna is location to immoderate of Italy's astir beloved exports.

These are conscionable a fewer of the region's products that are PDO and PGI-certified. This is simply a precocious modular successful the world of nutrient that signals an charismatic nexus betwixt a merchandise and a region.

Emilia-Romagna has 44 PDO and PGI products successful full — much than immoderate different Italian region.

You'll besides find immoderate of the country's most celebrated restaurants here, for illustration Osteria Francescana and Al Gatto Verde successful Modena, and Trattoria da Amerigo successful Savigno.

Beyond the accolades and fancy titles, though, I judge that what makes Emilia-Romagna's cuisine a standout is simply the attraction and attraction put into each crockery I've had here. After visiting the region complete a twelve times, I person yet to eat a subpar meal.

You tin sensation each the champion parts of Italy successful conscionable 1 region

A truffle huntsman and truffle-hunting canine digging for truffles successful Savigno.

In Savigno, you tin hunt for truffles pinch the thief of trained dogs.  Kaitlyn Rosati

I'll often caput to different Italian regions for circumstantial products, drinks, aliases dishes. For example, Tuscany is celebrated for its red wine; meanwhile, Campania's tomatoes are top-notch.

However, Emilia-Romagna really has a metropolis aliases municipality for everything you could ever want connected your plate. Savigno has a motion erstwhile entering that says "Cittá del Tartufo," which rather virtually translates to "City of Truffles."

A sojourn to Appennino Food Group, a nutrient accumulation group explicitly known for its truffle exports, is simply a awesome measurement to scheme an day of truffle hunting pinch trained pups. The institution was founded by Luigi Dattilo, who, astatine 17, refused his father's connection of a car and asked for a truffle canine instead.

As for tomatoes, Mutti, the famed canned herb brand, is headquartered successful Parma. Plus, if you're looking to bask Parmigiano-Reggiano successful its rightful birthplace, the only spot successful the world you tin do conscionable that is successful Emilia-Romagna.

Tortellini has immoderate roots here, too. There was a long-standing statement betwixt Modena and Bologna astir who made tortellini first. However, a celebrated fable holds that tortellini originated successful Castelfranco Emilia, a mini municipality betwixt the 2 hubs.

Some Italians theorize that tortellini's style was inspired by Venus's belly fastener aft she spent a nighttime astatine an inn successful town.

After years of visiting, I person immoderate favourite spots successful the region

Tortellini successful crema di Parmigiano astatine Franceschetta58 successful Modena.

One of my favourite meals is Franceschetta58's tortellini dish.  Kaitlyn Rosati

As personification who perpetually craves a sensation of Emilia-Romagna — and spends a batch of clip successful Italy — I'm successful the region often. I ever emotion trying caller places, but I person a fewer go-to spots.

One is Franceschetta58 successful Modena, known for its decadent tortellini en Parmigiana crema crockery (where, yes, I do lick the sheet cleanable each azygous time). For thing much traditional, I emotion visiting Sfoglia Rina successful Bologna for tortellini en brodo.

In Parma, Salumeria Garibaldi is an perfect spot for a sip of Lambrusco, the region's astir famed wine, paired pinch bites of prosciutto and mostarda.

Meanwhile, an hr and a half distant successful Ferrara, cheque retired Al Brindisi, a historic vino bar making love backmost to 1435, making it the world's oldest.

Despite its salient history, Al Brindisi has an unfussy consciousness and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, pinch tons of medieval charm. Pro tip: Order the cappellacci di zucca, aliases pumpkin-stuffed pasta, a staple of Ferrarese cuisine.

This communicative was primitively published connected February 18, 2026, and astir precocious updated connected July 29, 2026.

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Kaitlyn Rosati

Kaitlyn Rosati is an avid solo traveler, having visited each 7 world wonders, each 7 continents, and complete 80 countries alone. Her passion for walking the world began erstwhile she was a bartender successful NYC, wherever she took agelong weekends to research distant corners of the globe.In 2019, she discontinue her job, sold each of her belongings, and near New York for a one-way summons to Tahiti to embark connected a due round-the-world backpacking trip. While connected the road, she started to summation a pursuing connected her blog, No Man Nomad, and is now a full-time recreation writer and content creator. Some of Kaitlyn's favourite destinations are Italy, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Tanzania, but that database is only bound to support growing.

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