Italian cuisine just got closer to UNESCO fame –here’s why every traveller should care!

From Neapolitan pizza to tiramisu, Italy’s rich culinary heritage is closer than ever to UNESCO recognition—ready to delight travellers from around the world.

Italian cuisine is poised to get the recognition it deserves on the world stage. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has given the initial approval to inscribe Italian cuisine—think Neapolitan pizzas, pesto alla Genovese, and tiramisu—on its prestigious ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ list.

This preliminary assessment followed a joint proposal from Italy’s ministries of Culture and Agriculture, with the nomination dossier edited by Professor Pier Luigi Petrillo at Roman university Luiss Guido Carli. Travellers can experience this rich culinary heritage first-hand across Italy’s diverse regions.

Italy’s influence on global cuisine goes far beyond the famous margherita pizza and spaghetti bolognese. Regional specialities like Campania’s sfogliatella, Calabria’s ’nduja, and homegrown cooking techniques have found admirers worldwide.

‘It is wonderful to see the interest with which the recognition of Italian cuisine as a UNESCO heritage site is being followed,’ said Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, according to Euronews. ‘We have nominated a great tradition, something that distinguishes us, but we have not yet crossed this great and well-deserved finishing line.’

He urged people to wait until 10 December for further updates.

While the initial ‘yes’ is exciting, the final decision rests with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee. They will meet in New Delhi, India, from December 8-13, 2025, to announce the official verdict on entries to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

Italy already boasts several elements on UNESCO’s list, reflecting its rich cultural traditions:

1. The art of the Neapolitan ‘Pizzaiuolo’ (2017)

2. The art of glass beads (2020)

3. The practice of opera singing (2023)

4. Manual bell ringing (2024)

For travellers, this is the perfect excuse to explore Italy’s booming culinary scene. Must-try dishes include:

• Pizza fritta and Neapolitan pizza in Naples
• Risotto alla Milanese in Milan
• Prosciutto di Parma in Parma
• Arancini in Palermo
• Cannoli in Sicily
• Tart gelatos and, of course, Tiramisu

Italy isn’t just a feast for the eyes—it’s a feast for humanity, and soon, it might officially be recognised as such by UNESCO.