Italian Cuisine Listed as UNESCO Intangible Heritage

Italian cuisine has been added to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, becoming the first national cuisine in the world to be recognised in its entirety. The decision was taken unanimously by the Intergovernmental Committee meeting in New Delhi, India, on December 10, 2025.

According to UNESCO, Italian cooking represents “a cultural and social blend of culinary traditions” and “a way of taking care of oneself and others, expressing love and rediscovering cultural roots”. The practice is described as a community activity centred on respect for ingredients, anti-waste traditions and shared moments around the table.

The Italian proposal was among 60 dossiers examined this year from 56 countries. The committee praised how Italian cooking encourages inclusion, strengthens social ties and promotes lifelong learning through the transmission of knowledge between generations.

The nomination was coordinated by legal scholar Pier Luigi Petrillo and supported by key organisations such as La Cucina Italiana magazine, the Accademia Italiana della Cucina and the Fondazione Casa Artusi.

With this inscription, Italy now holds a world record for food-related cultural heritage. Of the country’s 21 elements on the Intangible Heritage list, nine belong to the agri-food sector, including the art of Neapolitan pizzaiuoli, transhumance, dry-stone walling, the cultivation of zibibbo vines in Pantelleria, the Mediterranean diet, truffle hunting, traditional irrigation systems and the breeding of Lipizzaner horses.

Before the inclusion of Italian cuisine as a whole, several regional and traditional practices had already been recognised by UNESCO. These include the Art of Neapolitan Pizzaiuoli (2017), the Mediterranean Diet (2010), the Transhumance— the seasonal migration of livestock (2019) — and the Cava and Search for Truffles (2021). Together, they reflect how local knowledge and craftsmanship continue to shape Italy’s identity and rural economy.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the decision as “a historic recognition that honours the Italian people and celebrates our identity”. In a video message broadcast during the UNESCO session, she said Italy welcomed the result “with great emotion and pride”.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who attended the session in India, said the success was “the result of great teamwork”. He called Italian cuisine “a symbol of our identity, history and culture” and added that it is also “health, innovation and a powerful driver of growth and prosperity”. Tajani noted that Italy’s agri-food exports reached a record €68 billion in 2024, up more than eight per cent from the previous year.

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