Starting this Wednesday, classics like pasta carbonara, spaghetti bolognese, lasagna, risottotiramisu, ice artisan pizza, Margherita pizza, Caprese salad, extra virgin olive oil or limoncello They constitute the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. UNESCO has recognized not only these emblematic recipes, but the entire Italian culinary tradition, with its immense variety of flavors, its techniques, its rituals, the relationship with the territory, its respect for ingredients and the art of bringing people together around the table.
The United Nations body, meeting in New Delhi, has included Italian cuisine, which not only nourishes, but also transmits history, identity and passion, on its Representative List. And that it has been consolidated as “a model of sociocultural identity”, an emotional heritage that transcends the borders of the European country and a “unifying system that transforms time shared at the table into a tool for expressing feelings, building dialogues or sharing ideas”. This recognition salutes not only the emblematic Italian recipes, popular around the world, but also their deep link with the history, identity and way of life of the transalpine country.
Italy thus adds a new cultural pride to its imagination of excellence and strengthens itself by remembering that its rich gastronomic tradition is transmitted from generation to generation and that its cuisine is not only eaten, but also lived. “The proposal for inscription on the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity does not refer to a single dish or recipe, but to a shared cultural model, composed of community experiences, conscious choice of raw materials, coexistence at the table, transmission of knowledge to new generations and respect for the seasons of products and territories,” say in a report the Italian Ministries of Culture, Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, which presented Italy’s candidacy to UNESCO in 2023, with the support of a group of experts and academics. Italian cuisine. “Italian cuisine is much more than a set of recipes: it is a daily ritual that has always accompanied us and which, every day, defines us. It is a tradition in continuous movement, which transforms, adapts and is enriched thanks to the infinite local influences that pass through it. It is precisely this vitality, this capacity to evolve without losing its essence, which has led us to propose Italian cuisine as a UNESCO heritage site”, declared the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida.
Promoters also highlight the sentimental value that gastronomy has for Italians: “Italian cuisine is the ‘cuisine of affection’: it transmits memories, care, relationships and identity, telling stories of families and communities through food. It reflects the link between natural landscapes and communities, embodying the memory, daily life and culture of the territories. Based on the file presented by Rome, this tradition has been able to revalorize its origins of “poor cuisine”, historically characterized by recipes for use and sustainability.
UNESCO has also recognized the country’s great regional diversity. The Italian catalog covers risotti typical of the north or prosciutto from Emilia-Romagna, to meats and stuffed pastas such as tortellini, through the different types of pasta with multiple sauces typical of each region, forming a heterogeneous culinary mosaic.
Italy proudly celebrates the recognition of its cuisine. From the Government to the great masters of cuisine, the entire country welcomed the news with enthusiasm. Chefs, gourmets and distinguished cultural figures emphasized that this achievement belongs not only to professionals, but to every Italian family that has kept its culinary traditions alive. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated the news with a recorded message in which she described the decision as “a historic recognition that honors the Italian people, celebrates our identity and promotes our lifestyle.”
Amid national enthusiasm, renowned chef Massimo Bottura highlighted the cultural, emotional and social value that Italian gastronomy contains. “It is not just a set of dishes or recipes, but a ritual of love, a language made of gestures, aromas and flavors that maintain a whole country. Around a set table, Italy recognizes itself: there dreams are shared, discussions are made, peace is made, memories are passed on. For us, it is not just about feeding ourselves: it is about taking care of our family, our friends, our guests in our restaurants. Italian cuisine is a living intangible heritage: built day after day by millions of hands of farmers, cheesemakers, breeders, artisans and cooks.
Beyond the symbolic value, recognition could have a concrete impact on tourism and employment. According to certain estimates from associations in the tourism and gastronomic sector, “the effect on tourist flows could result in an increase in foreign presences of between 6 and 8% during the first two years, which would mean in total around 18 million additional tourist presences”. The Confesercenti business association emphasizes that “Italian restaurants already constitute an irreplaceable tourist attraction”. According to their data, in 2024, foreign visitors spent 12.080 million euros in restaurants, bars and public places, 7.5% more than in 2023. Forecasts are on the rise. Added to this are tourist trips motivated by gastronomy and wine, which already today generate 9 billion euros in direct spending: a figure that confirms the role of Italian cuisine as a major factor in the choice of a vacation destination.
Italy is no stranger to this type of recognition: in 2017, the art of pizzaioli who prepare Neapolitan pizzas was declared intangible heritage and in 2021 UNESCO also recognized with this distinction the traditional knowledge linked to the research and collection of truffles.
With the incorporation of Italian cuisine as a whole, Italy reaches a total of 21 own or shared cultural expressions recognized in the lists of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The transalpine country has established itself as one of the great world references in terms of cultural heritage.
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