The Italian Cuisine: Intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage

The Italian cuisine is not just about iconic dishes or traditional recipes. It is a cultural language, deeply connected to identity, daily life, and the way conviviality brings people together around the table. UNESCO described it as a “cuisine of affections”, highlighting its power to unite generations, strengthen family and community bonds, and transmit values of inclusion and sharing.

Every preparation tells a story. Knowledge is passed naturally from one generation to the next, creating a living heritage rooted in the respectful use of local resources and natural cycles. Italian cuisine stands as a guardian of biodiversity, sustainability, and animal welfare, values that shaped its UNESCO candidacy under the title “Italian cooking, between sustainability and biocultural diversity.”

This recognition is historic. For the first time, a culinary tradition is celebrated in its entirety, not through a single dish or ritual. Homemade pasta, shared bread, wine accompanying festivities — each element forms a cultural mosaic now acknowledged as universal heritage

The Italian cuisine fully reflects the core principles of the MESA Project: sustainability, protection of biodiversity, animal welfare, and respect for natural agricultural cycles. It is precisely these values that earned it this prestigious recognition.