Culinary Destinations

Rome, the Eternal City, attracts countless visitors every year. Even after many visits, there’s always something new to discover, whether you’re interested in ancient Rome or the opulence of the Baroque capital. The Vatican’s gardens and buildings are also a must-see—and on holidays, you can see the Pope in person in St. Peter’s Square.

Of course, the Italian capital also has plenty to offer in terms of cuisine to satisfy every palate. For centuries, influences from various regions have blended here, consistently producing delicious variations as well as world-class international cuisine that has won numerous awards and accolades.

But in Bella Roma, simple, classic recipes are also popular; when prepared with care, they become culinary highlights. You can whip up bruschetta or penne all’arrabiata right in your own kitchen at home, evoking memories of the City on the Seven Hills, the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, or the many ruins of ancient Rome. Speaking of which: even the Romans knew about bread. How about baking your own focaccia sometime?

The picturesque setting on the Gulf of Naples, the sunny islands of Ischia and Capri just offshore, and the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius—which even sends a slight thrill down your spine when it’s dramatically spewing smoke again—have long made the region around Naples a favorite among vacationers. Naples also has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine: for example, the golden-brown fried rice balls are a specialty you can find at many street vendors in Naples. Try making this dish yourself and get back into that vacation mood.

Whether during the Venetian Carnival, during *Aqua Alta*—the annual high tide that floods large parts of the city every fall and winter—or simply on a beautiful summer day, anyone who has ever been to Venice will never forget the lagoon city, its canals, and its unique light. Even though the city is now visited daily by far more tourists than is good for it—Venice remains one of Italy’s most impressive cities. Every tourist in Venice knows the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Rialto Bridge, but there’s also plenty to discover in the many narrow alleys and squares: artisans, small shops, coffee bars, and restaurants.

Venetian cuisine benefits from the city’s location on the water and its extremely fertile hinterland, the Veneto region. As a result, Venetian menus feature many fish and seafood dishes, but vegetables and legumes also play a major role. In Venice, you’ll find fresh pasta on every corner, often enhanced with additional ingredients. Black spaghetti? You’ll find that in Venice, too—colored with squid ink.

But: Venice is so beautiful that it doesn’t take much to fall in love with it. An authentic Venetian tomato soup will transport you back to the Serenissima, as the locals call their city.

If you’re looking for an early spring or a sizzling hot summer, Sicily is the perfect destination for you. Scenic areas, stunning coastlines with picturesque beaches and small fishing villages, as well as ancient cities with a rich history that comes to life on every street corner.

Sicily boasts one of Italy’s most diverse regional cuisines—one that features a great deal of fish, even by Italian standards. The cuisine relies primarily on locally grown produce and locally caught fish. Sicily is also known for its variety of desserts. This clearly reflects the Arab influence on Sicily. Since citrus fruits also grow and thrive exceptionally well in Sicily, they feature prominently in the regional cuisine.

That’s why we have a Sicilian recipe for you: cod in tomato and salted lemon sauce. You can substitute the cod with any fish of your choice, depending on what your fishmonger currently has in stock.

Since Italy has been a popular travel destination for German vacationers for decades, many Italian products are also available here, and you can even find Italian tomatoes and pesto. The beauty of Italian cuisine is that the recipes are made with fresh vegetables, meat, or fish, and you can recreate them at home without any exotic ingredients. That’s why the best souvenirs to bring back from your vacation are inspiration and recipe ideas. If you’d like—and if you still have room in your luggage—you can, of course, also bring back Italian olive oil or dried herbs and spices. That’s a surefire way to recreate that vacation feeling.