From rustic focaccia to crisp grissini, flatbreads and crackers are integral parts of Italian cuisine and culture. As you travel across Italy’s diverse regions you’ll discover endless varieties—each with distinct ingredients and preparations reflecting local tastes.
In Southern Italy, look for light and airy pizzette topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, oregano and olive oil. The further north you venture, you’ll find hearty buckwheat flour rotelle infused with the Alpine countryside’s simplicity. Focaccia di Recco hails from Liguria, a paper-thin flatbread encasing creamy cheese. Sardinia’s pane carasau, a thin unleavened crisp, adds texture to antipasti or soup. And classic olive oil crackers made from toasted flour, called fette biscottate, often start Northern Italian meals.
Beyond geography, Italy’s flatbreads and crackers vary by time of day and season. For breakfast, bakeries fill with squares of focaccia layered with nuts and dried fruits. Come aperitivo, piadine—stuffed with cured meats or greens—and tarallini crackers accompany Campari and vermouth. As a snack for the road, grab grissini breadsticks, invented for Italian nobility as a food to gnaw while hunting.
No matter which you sample, Italy’s hearty flatbreads and crispy crackers offer texture and depth to every meal while connecting you to culture and place. Seek out these local specialties during your travels to experience true Italianità through the country’s diverse bread traditions passed down for generations and still very much thriving today.
Fortunately, for those not jetting off just yet, you can enjoy authentic Italian imported flatbreads and crackers without the transatlantic flight. Swing by Cucina Verona Mercato in Fort Bragg, CA – or shop online with nationwide delivery – and assemble a tasting flight of Italy’s finest. The journey continues right at home!