From Piemonte to Sicily, Sardinia to Friuli, Italy is rife with cheese. Hard cheese, soft cheese, goat’s milk, buffalo’s milk, you name it, the country that gave us Asiago and Gorgonzola is a dairy powerhouse.

Where indeed, would Italian cuisine, or world cuisine be for that matter, without venerable Parmigiano-Reggiano, the undisputed King of Cheese? Or simple ricotta, so at home in a real Sicilian canoli? A tiramisu without mascarpone is well, nothing.

So, as we did for France, let us take you on a brief tour of some of the most delicious cheesy destinations in Italy. All of the regions that follow fall under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status under European Union regulations. Translation: they produce world class cheese.

Trento

Home of Asiago, indispensable Grana Padano and melty Provolone, the Province of Trento proffers some of the most famous cheese names in all of Italy. Rife with steep mountain peaks and sunny, grassy valleys, the far northern province has the ideal geography and climate for graze-happy undulates. The provincial capital of the same name, on the foothills of the Dolomites, has a population of over 110,000 people and some notable points of interest. Check out the Piazza Duomo, Castello del Buonconsiglio and Palazzo Salvadori.

Emilia-Romagna

While Trento is a province within the remote Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region, Emilia-Romagna is itself a region in Italy. And one of the most famous at that, with spectacular Bologna as a capital and a culinary heritage that easily ranks as one of the most influential in not just Italy, but the entire world. Think about it. Parmigiano-Reggiano comes from here. Provolone, Grana Padano and others as well but as the birthplace of the King of Cheese, Emilia-Romagna is beyond special. Toss in other regional staples like Bolognese sauce, prosciutto, mortadella, salame, tagliatelle, tortellini and wines like Lambrusco and Sangiovese and wow, what a food destination!

Sardinia

Sardinia is a big place to tackle, undoubtedly. Many people who visit the Mediterranean Sea island stick to the coast in lieu of the much more culturally vibrant interior. Nothing wrong with that really. If you want sun, beach resorts and luxury, Sardinia has it galore. But again, as we always preach here, why not get out of the bubble and explore the real gems of the island. Sardinia is the only place in Italy whose inhabitants have been designated wholly distinct by constitutional law. As a result, the island’s culture, history and agricultural and artisanal heritage are peerless. Cheese is a major part of that of course, from Fiore Sardo to Pecorino Sardo and the crown jewel of Sardinia, salty, tangy Pecorino Romano (which one can also procure in Lazio and Tuscany).

Piedmont

There’s something exquisitely bucolic about Piedmont, or indeed, Piemonte. “At the foot of the mountain”, as the name implies, is as apt a descriptor as one can ascribe to an Italian region. With the Alps on three sides and the river Po rising through it, Piemonte is green, lush, rugged and awash with vital agriculture and people who know how to get the best out of the land. As such, visit the gorgeous region for Bra (a unique cheese made in a town of the same name in the province of Cuneo), Castelmagno, veiny, blue Gorgonzola, Grana Padano, Murazzano, Raschera, Robiola di Roccaverano, Taleggio and Toma.

Brescia

The province and city of Brescia is another place in Italy that you smell and taste as much as you see. Within spectacular, scenic Lombardy – a region that offers lakes like Como, Garda and Maggiore, a fashionable capital in Milan and UNESCO World Heritage charm in Mantua and Sabbioneta – the province is a significant tourist destination. The city of the same name is a lively hive of activity, with a plethora of historic attractions to take in. But again, cheese comes to the forefront here, with more of the big names in store for visitors: Gorgonzola, Grana Padano, Provolone, Quartirolo Lombardo and Taleggio.

Aosta Valley

Valle d’Aosta Fromadzo and delightful, splendid Fontina are two of the most famous cheese exports of the Aosta Valley. The autonomous region, with more in common with Provence, France and Switzerland, lies in the extreme northwest of Italy, on the border of Piemonte. Like Piemonte then, the small mountainous, valley-rich, pastoral region is beautiful to explore.

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