Italy has a free wine fountain
A free wine fountain sounds like the stuff of dreams – but it’s a very real thing in Caldari di Ortona in Italy. The small town has a free wine fountain that flows 24-hours a day with locally grown red wine. The fontana di vino can be found in the Dora Sarchese vineyard, which sits on the Italian pilgrimage route of Cammino di San Tommaso.
Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world
Italy received over 62 million international visitors in 2018, making the country the fifth most visited in the world. Some of our favorite places to visit are the iconic cities of Rome, Pisa, Florence and Milan, along with gems like Lake Como, Assisi, Verona, Sorrento and the beautiful Isle of Capri.
Italians invented pizza in Naples
The first modern pizza, with a tomato base, was made in the Campania region of Naples in 1860. Since then, it has become one of the most beloved foods on the planet. Although the humble pizza has gone through many changes over time, the world’s most delicious pizza can still be found in Naples today. Buon Appetito!
Italians have eaten pasta since the 4th century B.C.
Pasta is a crucial part of Italian culture, with many of the world’s best pasta dishes created in Italy. And they’ve had time to perfect their craft. Evidence suggests that pasta dishes in Italy date back as far as the 4th century B.C. after historians found paintings in a pre-Roman Italian tomb thought to depict pasta-making equipment.
Whether you prefer a creamy carbonara or a classic spaghetti bolognese, we guarantee you will eat the world’s finest pasta in Italy.
Italians consume 14 billion espressos each year
It’s well known that Italians adore their coffee. But did you know that they enjoy 14 billion espressos each year? That’s impressive for a country with a population of just over 60 million. Most Italians drink their daily coffee in local cafés and over 20,000 Italians work as baristas. Many people also get their fix at home, with the average household consuming 37kg of coffee each year.