Italian cuisine, a national pride: now a UNESCO World Heritage

Italy’s gastronomic tradition has been added to the list of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage of humanity — the first national cuisine in the world to be recognised in its full complexity.

The decision was adopted unanimously by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee, meeting in New Delhi, India. In its justification, Italian cuisine is described as a “cultural and social blend of culinary traditions,” “a way of caring for oneself and for others, expressing love and reconnecting with cultural roots, offering communities a space to share their history and interpret the world around them.” The announcement was met with prolonged applause in the room.

The Italian dossier was among 60 applications examined, submitted by 56 countries. UNESCO highlights how Italian-style cooking “fosters social inclusion, promotes wellbeing and provides a permanent channel for intergenerational learning, strengthening bonds, encouraging sharing and nurturing a sense of belonging.”

For Italians, cooking is “a communal activity that emphasises intimacy with food, respect for ingredients and time shared around the table. The practice is rooted in anti-waste recipes and in the transmission of flavours, skills and memories across generations. As a multigenerational practice, with fully interchangeable roles, cooking plays an inclusive function, allowing everyone to enjoy an individual and collective experience of continual exchange that transcends intercultural and intergenerational boundaries.”