Italian
A historic recognition: the entire Italian culinary system protected as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity
ROME – The Italian cuisine has officially entered the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognized by UNESCO. It is not a single dish, but the entire national culinary system, understood as a living heritage made up of practices, rituals, respect for seasonality, and the transmission of knowledge between generations.
The Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli described the recognition as “a historic achievement,” emphasizing how Italian cuisine reaffirms its cultural, social, and identity value, as well as its role in building a shared collective memory.
During the celebratory evening, in the presence of Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa, Giuli recalled that “not only is Italian cuisine culture, but culture is Italian cuisine.” A heritage that encompasses conviviality, love for the land and for those who cultivate it, with a unique gastronomic biodiversity and an ancient tradition.
The Minister finally evoked the symbolic value of the domestic fire, a place of identity and community: “It is there that the ritual is celebrated, it is there that people are loved, it is there that our identity is recognized.”
