Explore Italy Through Eataly This Summer

Pack your utensils, leave your passport

No vacation plans? No problem. This summer, Eataly takes a trip through Italy — from nord a sud (north to south) — with bites to eat at every stop. The route starts in Liguria on Italy's west coast and runs the length of the country down to the Egadi Islands off Sicily. Stop by the marketplace, shop online or get local delivery to find everything you need to create an authentic Italian summer from the comfort of home.

First stop: Liguria

Start with the basics. At the heart of every great Italian recipe is a rich, complex extra virgin olive oil, and Liguria has been making it for centuries. The region is known for its Taggiasca olive trees, which produce a fruity, fragrant oil with subtle nutty notes. It is delicate enough not to overpower natural flavors, so it is best for fresh seafood and vegetables. Add a Ligurian olive oil to the pantry this summer for more flavor and depth in every meal.

Time for pranzo

Head east to the coast of Emilia-Romagna for a piadina. This warm, round flatbread is a customizable vessel for a midday snack. It is made with just a few key ingredients, simple enough to let the fillings shine. Build one with your favorite fixings, like prosciutto, arugula and stracchino cheese. A staple of the Costa Romagnola, it is easy to recreate wherever you are this summer.

Sweet treat o'clock

Before heading south, stay in Emilia-Romagna a little longer. The small city of Vignola produces sweet cherries, eaten as they are or turned into jams and liqueurs. Different varieties suit a range of tastes, so there is a Vignola cherry for everyone. The famed stone fruit has a dark color and a sweet, juicy taste. Soak the cherries in alcohol to serve with dessert, or enjoy them in a cherry jam.

A pizza in Rome

Next stop: Rome, Italy's capital. For the true Roman experience, order pizza alla pala. This traditional Roman pizza is colossal in size and served on a wooden paddle, or pala. Compared with a thin-crust pizza Napoletana, the Roman style is thick and fluffy with a crisp exterior. At Pizza alla Pala, Eataly's own Roman pizza take-away counter, the pizzaioli serve up one or two irresistible slices.

Ciao, Naples

No trip through Italy is complete without pasta. Gragnano, a city outside Naples in Campania, makes some of Italy's finest dried pasta, thanks to its unique microclimate. Locals call it white gold, and it lives up to the name. The European Union has granted Pasta di Gragnano PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status. A pastaio, or pasta maker, must make sure the pasta meets several requirements before using the name. This pasta is the star of any dish, not just an accompaniment to a sauce. Pick up a bag in the marketplace or try it at one of Eataly's restaurants.

In the sea of Sicily

The last stop is the Egadi Islands, off Sicily. This coastal spot is home to generations of fishermen, specifically tonneroti, or tuna fishermen. Each year they wait patiently for the tuna to arrive from the Strait of Gibraltar and begin the hunt, known as la mattanza. From there the tuna is shipped around the world in different forms. In Japan it is served as sashimi. Americans open tins of tuna in olive oil. At Eataly it goes into dishes like pasta al tonno. Sicilian tuna from the Egadi Islands is a taste of tradition and hard work.

Until the next tour

That is the tour for now. Stop by your local Eataly, get local delivery or shop online to create an Italian summer at home.