Troy L. Milliron 
Just when everyone thought Italian food was the ultimate comfort food, step into Italian street food: the penultimate comfort food.
Italy has the most iconic and famous sites in the world. In addition, the country is undoubtedly the most beautiful in the world. From the wonderful Cinque Terre, the magical Venice, the splendid Tuscany and the musical Verona to ancient Rome, the beautiful Lake Como and the fabulous Mount Etna, Italy is home to the most magnificent attractions and monuments. Moreover, the country is known for its unique cuisine, which has served the world with the most delicious pizzas and pastas for centuries.
However, the culinary culture in Italy goes beyond that, and the local cuisine is as diverse as one can imagine, with various areas having multiple specialties. The northern and southern peninsulas are primarily home to the most iconic street food that can be found in Italy. Each region serves unique dishes that are particular to the history and culture of the region.
Here’s where to find authentic Italian food when visiting the most beautiful country in the world.
Street food in Italy is known for its simplicity and is based on the quality of the ingredients, not their number. Additionally, people are faced with several options when deciding to take a street food tour of Italy, as each region has its type of local dishes.
- Story: Street food in Italy was associated with the poorest regions of the country. For example, the food stalls were far from famous restaurants and town squares. On the contrary, most of the Italian foods marketed around the world were initially used as street food at the time.
In Italy there is the Festival Internazionale de Cibo di Strada where street food can be found all over the historic center of Cesena. The event takes place every year in October. Other events include the Street Food Villages, which take place in different cities in Italy. The Streetfood Project organizes them.
One of Italy’s most famous street foods is Olive Ascolana, or fried olives, which consist of small, round packets of fried Ascolana olives stuffed with a crusty bread coating stuffed with minced meat.
- Where to find them: The Oscalana olive can be found in the streets of Marche, Italy. The food is native to Ascoli-Piceno, this type of olive being native to this region and specially cultivated there. Le Marche is located near Tuscany and the Adriatic Sea.
This delicious treat and ice cream is a must in Italy
Originally from Sicily, Cannoli is a delicious street dessert to enjoy while visiting Italy. It consists of a treat that takes the shape of an iconic tube and is filled with savory-sweet toppings. The tube is made of puff pastry filled with chocolate chips and fresh ricotta. Cherries and candied oranges are then added to the top of this delicious dessert.
- Where to find it: Cannoli street food is located in Palermo, located next to Sicily. This is where we find the best versions of the dessert.
All over Italy, people love to eat ice cream, or Gelato, to be more precise. Italy is the country of origin of ice cream. The original name of the dessert is Gelato, and it has been duplicated around the world for its unique and magical taste. However, it is another experience to try Gelato, especially in Italy. There are several delicious flavors to choose from.
- Recommended: When ordering Gelato in Italy, the best flavors to select include chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut, cream, pistachio, custard, and stracciatella. Adding a brioche to Gelato gives the treat a dreamy taste.
Although cappuccino is a famous style of coffee known around the world, the best drinks can be found in Italy. However, people should understand that cappuccinos are consumed in Italy before mid-morning, as milk is considered an ingredient in breakfast. As a result, most bistros and cafes across the country serve cappuccinos before 11:00 a.m.
These are the most delicious types of street food in Italy
In southern Italy, especially Sicily, people love to taste the unique Arancini, which consists of fried rice balls filled with peas, meat and cheese. People can find many types of Arancini to savor during the Santa Lucia Festival in Palermo.
Another iconic street food in Italy is Porchetta Romana, which originated from Arricia in Rome. Food trucks or vans serve this tasty traditional meat dish that consists of roast pork stuffed with rosemary, garlic and other herbs. Salt is heavily added to the Porchetta Romana, which is then rolled up and thinly sliced. This dish is sold by the kilo or as a panini.
Another famous street food in Rome is the Trapizzino, a cheap salty snack. This type of food is new to the scene and was only prepared in 2008. However, it quickly gained ground in Italy. The Trapizzino is a sandwich-shaped pizza with a slice in the middle for people to choose whatever topping they want.
- Recommended: People are invited to taste the Trapizzino filled with eggplant parmigiana or the meatballs in tomato sauce.
Other street foods that people love to sample in Italy include Lampredotto in Florence, Panelle in Sicily, Pizza al Taglio in Rome, Pesce Fritto Al Cono, Piadina Romagnola, Pani ca meusa in Palermo, and Zeppole in Naples.
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