
Interestingly, it is not strictly a traditional Italian bread – ciabatta was created in Italy in 1982 by an Italian miller called Arnaldo Cavallari – so can be viewed as a modern classic! 5. It has a unique, almost plasticity, texture, which makes it possible to do practically anything with this bread. Perhaps the most well-known and popular Italian bread, ciabatta is a slipper-shaped bread. Usually topped with some mozzarella, and a few olives and served hot with a little olive oil – you should definitely try this bread if you get the chance! 4. The dough is rolled out quite thick, which is why it looks more like bread than pizza when it comes out of the oven! Pizza BiancaĪs the name suggests, this addition to our list is a cross between pizza and bread. Traditionally, pane toscano is cooked in a woodfired oven giving it a unique flavour, and it’s great for mopping up a Tuscan soup or stew! 3. This is a large round, springy bread that is similar to a white loaf, but much flatter.

Literally translated as “Tuscan bread”, this beautiful bread is a regional specialty of Tuscany. The simplest styles of focaccia are topped with herbs and drizzled with olive oil, but you can also buy quite elaborate versions topped with vegetables or meats. It’s believed that the Romans invented this style of bread – but they cooked theirs on the hearth, which produces a far crispier version than modern-day offerings. Focacciaįocaccia is an oven-baked flatbread with a similar texture to pizza dough. It’s definitely worth trying some of the specialist breads that are available – you’re sure to find a new favourite! 1. Italy has an incredible variety of bread, with many regional versions of flatbread, sourdough, and your traditional loaf.

So you’ll rarely see it served with pasta in Italy! Most importantly, bread should always be eaten with other food, but it should not be eaten with a starchy meal. Much like the rest of Italian food culture, however, there are some important rules to bear in mind when it comes to eating bread. Whilst Italians may not eat quite as much as many other Europeans do, they do eat it virtually every day, and Italian cuisine has a wealth of regional bread variations. Bread is a wonderful food, a great base for many meals and it plays a big part in virtually every food culture.
