Twelve incredible Italian food experiences for every season

Italy is renowned for its culinary excellence, offering a feast for the senses and a journey through time. Here, every region tells its story through vibrant flavours, long-held traditions and unforgettable experiences. Imagine glamping under the leaves of Sardinia’s ancient olive groves, perfecting the ancient art of butchery in the Marche, hunting for truffles in the woods of Piemonte and crafting cavatelli by hand in the kitchens of Molise. Ready to explore? Here’s your seasonal guide to some of Italy’s ultimate food adventures.

Spring

Sicily

Meet dairy farmers and sample the region’s best cheese.Credit: Getty Images

Take on cheese making and chocolate
Explore the Ragusa countryside and its cheese farms and then journey to Modica, famous for its unusual grainy chocolate. At a family-run farm in Ragusa, you’ll see the entire cheese production, from the curdling of the milk to the shaping of fresh provola and Ragusano DOP, and the preparation of ricotta. In Modica, you’ll taste chocolate and learn about its preparation. Casa Mia Food and Wine can co-ordinate a day trip from anywhere in Sicily. See casamiatours.com

Marche

Break down a whole hog at La Tavola Marche.

Become an Italian butcher
If learning the art of butchery and actually getting your hands dirty sounds fun, then the Whole Hog Butchery Workshop offered by La Tavola Marche might be for you. The team here runs two-day workshops that cover different cuts of meat, how to properly break down a whole hog and how to prepare various dishes using the different parts of the animal. You’ll also have the opportunity to taste the dishes that you’ve prepared, along with other traditional recipes. See latavolamarche.com

Molise

Learn the traditional way to make cavatelli.Credit: Getty Images

Become an expert at making cavatelli
Learn to make Molise’s most famous pasta shape with Molise Cuisine. Under the guidance of experts, you’ll learn the traditional way to make cavatelli and you’ll get to taste them too. Beyond the kitchen, the company’s activities provide insights into Molise’s culinary heritage, offering enriching experiences for food enthusiasts. Many nearby agriturismi (farm stays) also offer cooking lessons, such as La Ginestra, located just out of Campobasso. Along with sleeping and eating here, you can learn to make cavatelli among other local delights. See facebook.com/molisecuisine; laginestra.info

Summer

Campania

Making limoncello tiramisu at Giardino di Capri.

Cook and dine in a private garden villa on the isle of Capri
While Capri’s majestic waters and landscapes don’t need too much of a sales pitch, Australian Holly Star and her Caprese husband, Gianluca d’Esposito, have found a unique way to showcase the island’s authentic food. At their villa and garden in Anacapri, they offer bespoke and sustainable culinary activities: think private garden dining or making ravioli capresi or torta caprese and limoncello in a tailored cooking class. Enjoy a tasting of local wines and the couple’s extra virgin olive oil. If cooking isn’t your thing, you’ll have the garden to yourself while they cook for you. See giardinodicapri.com

Sardegna

Aperitivo and glamping collide at Sa Mola.

Go glamping in an ancient olive grove
Sa Mola Experience allows you to stay in an ancient olive grove in this aperitivo-meets-glamping hotspot. For four generations, the Cadoni family has been crafting exquisite extra virgin olive oil in the quaint village of Escolca (about an hour north of Cagliari). As the sun sets, guests indulge in regional wines paired with a delectable assortment of olives, cheeses, artisanal breads and expertly cured meats. Then you retreat for the night in your glammed-up tent or 1970s-style camper van. See oliosamola.com/glamping

Basilicata

Opulent Palazzo Margherita also offers four-day cooking courses.

Culinary delights at Francis Ford Coppola’s hotel
Immerse yourself in the opulence of Palazzo Margherita, the breathtaking 19th-century palazzo owned by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. Enrol in the hotel’s four-day cooking course, where you venture out to markets and prepare a different menu each day, or spend a few hours at a local masseria (farmhouse), tasting wine and learning to make pizza. With the rustic dishes and family-like atmosphere, you will feel right at home – here, you’re not just a guest, but an honorary member of the Coppola dynasty. See thefamilycoppolahideaways.com

Autumn

Piemonte

Giuseppe and his truffle dog Luna.Credit: Katie McKnoulty

Head into the Langhe woods for a truffle hunt
There is nothing more Piedmont than hunting for truffles. At various times of the year, you can experience the real deal with a hunter and trained dogs in the woods, with simulated hunts on offer the rest of the time. The hunters will guide you through the process and explain the nuances of finding these rare delicacies. There are many providers in the area, such as Giuseppe – a third-generation hunter – and his adorable dog, Luna. See trufflehuntingalbalanghe.eu

Veneto

Prosecco territory: A church in San Vigilio, between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano.Credit: Getty Images

Immerse yourself in the land of Prosecco
Spend a few days in Prosecco territory, an area that comprises 50,000 acres of vineyards heritage protected by UNESCO. Base yourself in either Conegliano or Valdobbiadene: the two towns are connected by a road called Strada del Prosecco (literally “Prosecco Road”). Book in with luxury operator Imago Artis for a guided trip of the area. For a unique experience, La Vigna di Sarah offers Prosecco picnics on its estate and night harvest events guided by the full moon. See iatravel.com; lavignadisarah.it

Tuscany

Enoteca Marilu’s founders, sommelier Marco Lami and cookbook author Emiko Davies.

Experience multi-day slow travel adventures
KM Zero Tours is a boutique slow travel company based in Chianti with tours that promote sustainable tourism and support local communities. Choose from a three- or seven-day stay and see Italy through local producers and artisans with cooking classes, bread- and pizza-making, wine tastings, olive oil farm visits and cheese making demonstrations. Untold Italy run multiple day tours in Tuscany and beyond for small groups. The company takes you to the heart of each destination with bespoke activities such as food tours, tastings and feasts in unforgettable locations. Slow travel combines with seasonal food and natural wine at Enoteca Marilu and Cooking School in hilltop San Miniato. Here, award-winning Australian-Japanese food writer and author Emiko Davies and her Tuscan-born sommelier husband, Marco Lami, run weekly market and cooking classes, wine tastings and special events. See kmzerotours.com; untolditaly.com; enotecamarilu.com

Winter

Trentino-Alto Adige

Christmas time in Bolzano.Credit: Getty Images

Take a street food tour in Bolzano
Let experts guide you through Bolzano, a quaint town where you’ll discover businesses that are a living testimony to local history. You’ll get to savour at least five delicacies along the way, from the best sausage in town to breads and sweets. Finish up with wine or craft beer. All the while, you’ll see monuments and learn about this multicultural region’s fascinating and complex history. Tours at Christmas time mix food with light shows and decorations, creating a magical atmosphere. See bolzanostreetfoodtour.com

Emilia Romagna

Lara and Massimo Bottura outside their boutique countryside hotel, Casa Maria Luigia in Modena.

Fast cars, slow food: the full Bottura experience
Nothing says Emilia-Romagna more than renowned chef Massimo Bottura. Get organised well in advance and book a lunch or dinner at Osteria Francescana: you won’t regret it. Can’t get a booking? Try Franceschetta58, Bottura’s casual bistro, which never disappoints. Stay at Casa Maria Luigia, the Botturas’ plush boutique countryside estate where walls are swathed in Gucci wallpaper, and jazz, art and antique lovers will rejoice. In nearby Maranello, enjoy a contemporary trattoria meal at the Ferrari/Bottura venture, Cavallino, and breathe in the real “Made in Italy” with a visit to the Ferrari museum. See osteriafrancescana.it; casamarialuigia.com; franceschetta.it; ferrari.com

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Grazing delights in a traditional osmiza.Credit: Fabrice Gallina/PromoTurismoFVG

Eat in an osmiza, pop-up taverns in the Trieste area
With a name derived from the Slovenian osmica, these pop-up taverns are a blend of culture and cuisine. Operating only on particular days, these culinary havens showcase farmers’ homemade delights. They are a chance to immerse yourself in vibrant, community spirit while you savour the authenticity of regional flavours. There are about 50 in operation across Friuli-Venezia Giulia, so keep an eye out for these gems that connect you with rich cultural heritage. See osmize.com

These experiences are featured in Mangia: How to eat your way through Italy (Smith Street Books) by Maria Pasquale.