When it comes to food and drink, few can top Italy’s stellar reputation. Ask anyone to name their favourite dishes and you can guarantee things like pizza, pasta and gelato soon come tripping off the tongue.

And while these iconic dishes are loved around the globe for very good reason, Italy boasts plenty more crowd-pleasers. So whether you’re staying in the sun-soaked south or the mountainous north, get your taste buds ready: they’re about to go wild.

1. Tortellini in broth

If top Italian dishes are what you’re looking for, we know the bite for you: tortellini! These small, meat-and-cheese-filled dumplings are most often served en brodo, or in a simple broth, and are practically synonymous with the city of Bologna. You’re sure to find them on almost every menu, especially if you’re on tour in Bologna during a special holiday.

2.Pizza

Everyone knows what pizza is, it needs no introduction, but what you probably know as pizza isn’t quite the same as in Italy. Pizza has been around the Italian Peninsula for centuries, but it was in 1889 when Queen Margherita of Savoy visited the city of Naples that the famous pizza Margherita was born. The story goes that the queen was tired of French cuisine and that she summoned Raffaele Esposito, a well-known pizza-maker, to create an original pizza for her. Queen Margherita approved of the pizza consisting of tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil. Immediately after this, Raffaele Esposito named his pizza the Margherita and asked the Queen for her royal approval. In Italy, pizza is fresh, simple, and of a decent size, making each ingredient stand out on its own. There are two types of Italian pizza: Neapolitan pizza “pizza Napoletana”, which is thicker and smaller, also known as Naples-style pizza, and Roman pizza “pizza Romana”, which originates from Rome and is thinner, crispier, and larger.

3. Pasta

In Italy, the word ‘pasta’ doesn’t even begin to sum up the sheer volume of amazing dishes on offer. From simple spaghetti carbonara in Rome to fresh seafood pasta in Sicily, wherever you are, try to sample the locals’ favourites – there’s a reason they’re popular. Try one of the rarest pasta dishes around by heading to the picturesque island of Sardinia, home to our Baia dei Mori Beachclub and malloreddus alla campidanese – a unique gnocchi-like pasta served in a rich tomato, sausage and saffron sauce. It melts in the mouth and will leave you wanting more and more…

4. Arancini

If you’ve never had a fried rice ball in Sicily, you’re gonna want to fix that immediately. Arancini are handmade with slightly varied ingredients and preparations on different parts of the island, but are often filled with meat ragù and peas, or ham and mozzarella. The ball (or cone) of risotto is then rolled in breadcrumb and dropped in the deep frier. What’s not to like about a warm, cheesy ball of goodness?! It’s one of the top Italian dishes for a reason.

5. Lasagna

A meal made up of layers of pasta, meat, cheese, and tomato sauce is as close as it can get to culinary perfection. There’s also a vegetarian version where meat is substituted with vegetables, that way everyone has the chance to try the amazing Italian dish. Lasagna is from the Naples region, and it was originally cooked with bechamel sauce, ragu, and cheese, but over the years, with more international ingredients available, lasagna transformed into what we know today.