In December 2025, Italian gastronomy made history — UNESCO officially recognized the entire national cuisine as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for the first time. Almost simultaneously, the updated TasteAtlas 2025/2026 ranking named Italy the country with the best cuisine in the world. This recognition proves that traditional recipes, based on love for ingredients and respect for regional identity, remain relevant even in the 21st century. In this article, we explore what makes Italian cuisine so beloved, review the latest news, and at the end invite you to visit the Da Vinci Irina restaurant in Northern Cyprus.
The Secrets Behind the Popularity of Italian Cuisine
Italian cuisine belongs to the Mediterranean tradition and has been developing for centuries, starting from the era of Ancient Rome. One of its key characteristics is simplicity: many dishes consist of only a few high-quality ingredients, which means the final taste depends on their freshness and origin. Both restaurant chefs and home cooks focus on ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, cold-pressed olive oil, fresh pasta, and Parmigiano cheese, allowing each ingredient to express its natural flavor. This simplicity goes hand in hand with respect for seasonality — traditional recipes rely on vegetables, fruits, and herbs available in a specific region and time of year.
Another reason for the global love of Italian cuisine is its close connection to the Mediterranean diet. The foundation of the diet includes grains, fish, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Cheeses, cured meats, pizza, and coffee complement the table and shape Italy’s gastronomic culture. In the north, risotto, polenta, and a wide variety of cheeses are popular, while the south is famous for pizza, pasta, and seafood. The diversity of regional cuisines — from tortellini from Bologna to Neapolitan pizza — makes Italian gastronomy truly inexhaustible.
Latest News: UNESCO Recognition and TasteAtlas Awards
UNESCO
On December 10, 2025, during the session of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee in New Delhi, a decision was made to include Italian cuisine in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This marked the first time that an entire national cuisine, rather than a single tradition, was added to the list. The Italian government emphasized that national gastronomy is a social ritual that brings families and communities together and goes far beyond pizza and pasta. According to Reuters, this recognition could increase tourist flows to Italy by 8 percent within two years.
TasteAtlas 2025/2026
In December 2025, the updated TasteAtlas ranking once again named Italy the country with the best cuisine in the world, returning it to the top position. In the category of “Best Food Cities in the World,” Naples became the absolute leader with a score of 4.99, with Milan receiving the same score, while Bologna followed closely with 4.98. In the regional ranking, Campania took first place, known for its sun-ripened tomatoes, buffalo milk mozzarella, and pasta allo scarpariello. TasteAtlas highlights that Italian cuisine is not just about dishes, but a combination of technique, territory, seasonality, and family traditions.
Economic Impact
According to the Deloitte Foodservice Market Monitor 2025 report, global sales of Italian cuisine reached 251 billion euros in 2024, increasing by 4.5 percent compared to the previous year and accounting for 19 percent of the global restaurant service market. The United States and China together represent more than 65 percent of global consumption of Italian dishes. Despite currency fluctuations, exports of Made in Italy food products between June 2024 and May 2025 exceeded 70.7 billion euros, nearly double the level of ten years earlier. Experts note that UNESCO status will help protect authentic products from imitation and justify higher prices for genuine Italian goods.
Regional Diversity and Traditions
Although many recipes have become globally famous, traditional Italian cuisine continues to preserve strong regional differences. Italy brings together numerous gastronomic traditions and regional cuisines that constantly exchange ideas. Tuscany is known for its simple rustic soups and legume-based dishes, Liguria for pesto and fish dishes, Emilia-Romagna for fresh pasta and Parma ham, and Sicily for desserts made with citrus fruits and almonds. This diversity allows people from all over the world to find their own favorite Italian dish.
Da Vinci Irina Restaurant: Modern Classics in Northern Cyprus
Our Da Vinci Irina restaurant is located in Lapta, on the coast of Northern Cyprus. We first opened our doors in 1996 in Potsdam, Germany, and later brought our traditions and cozy atmosphere to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Italian recipes are combined with a light Mediterranean spirit, and each dish tells a story of family, tradition, and the joy of shared moments.
Menu: From Carpaccio to Tiramisu
Our menu offers a carefully curated selection of Italian classics with modern accents. In the starters section, guests will find vitello tonnato — thinly sliced veal with a creamy tuna and caper sauce — and parmigiana di melanzane with eggplant, tomato sauce, and basil. Pizza lovers can enjoy pizza quattro formaggi and the signature pizza Da Vinci with marinated shrimp and Parmesan. Among the pasta dishes, highlights include rigatoni con ragù di manzo, spaghetti allo chef with shrimp and garlic, and ravioli ricotta e spinaci — handmade ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach. To finish the meal, guests can choose from desserts ranging from classic pistachio tiramisu to delicate chocolate soufflé.
Events and Special Occasions
In addition to romantic dinners, we offer the opportunity to host family celebrations, business meetings, and themed evenings at our restaurant. On the “Events” page, our services are described in detail, including personalized menu planning, venue decoration, live music, and special offers for children. The restaurant regularly hosts wine tastings, cocktail evenings, and corporate dinners. Every event becomes a warm and memorable occasion where both details and atmosphere truly matter.
Our Philosophy and Team
On the “About the Restaurant” page, you can learn more about our history and philosophy. We believe that every guest should feel like part of a large Italian family, which is why we focus not only on food but also on atmosphere. Our chefs select ingredients with the same care as Italian home cooks, and our service team speaks several languages to ensure every guest feels comfortable.
Italian cuisine has conquered the world thanks to its simplicity, high-quality ingredients, and respect for tradition. UNESCO recognition and top positions in the TasteAtlas ranking confirm that the heritage of family recipes and regional traditions remains relevant and continues to deliver enormous cultural and economic value.
We invite you to discover the richness of Italian flavors at our Da Vinci Irina restaurant in Northern Cyprus. Explore our menu, learn more about our story, and discover our events. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the joy of authentic Italian cuisine with you.