Happy Befana! The Epiphany on January 6 is one of the most beloved celebrations in Italy. On this day, children wake up excited to open their gifts, while families gather to enjoy sweets and traditions that have been passed down for generations.
While thinking of children across Italy celebrating Befana, I would also like to share an important cultural announcement. It comes from the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and highlights the deep connection between food, art, and identity.
Italy Celebrates Food as Cultural Heritage
In 2018, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, together with the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, officially inaugurated The Year of Italian Food. This national initiative focuses on food as a central part of Italy’s cultural heritage.
Rather than limiting the celebration to recipes alone, the campaign highlights food as it appears in art. In fact, the goal is to show how taste, scent, and tradition have inspired artists for centuries.
Art, Museums, and Italian Food Culture
As part of this initiative, the Instagram account @museitaliani shared nearly 50 digital posters. These posts connect famous artworks to the theme of Italian food culture.
Among them are the Karo stele at the Egyptian Museum in Turin, The Dinner with the Wedding by Gherardo delle Notti, and still-life paintings by Giorgio De Chirico. Moreover, sculptures by Darren Bader at the Madre Museum in Naples and historic advertising posters from the Salce Museum in Treviso are also included.
Additionally, iconic masterpieces such as The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the frescoes of Pompeii, and the still lifes of the Villa Medicea of Poggio a Caiano remind us how deeply food and wine are woven into Italy’s artistic story.
A Social Invitation to Discover Italy
The rules of the campaign remain simple. Visitors are invited to explore more than 420 museums, archaeological parks, and cultural sites across Italy. Each month, participants photograph and share artworks related to the theme using the hashtag #annodelciboitaliano.
As a result, sharing photos becomes a collective storytelling experience. Through food, Italians and visitors alike can rediscover history, tradition, and the evolution of taste.
Food as a Mirror of Italian Identity
The Year of Italian Food was announced by Ministers Franceschini and Martina to promote the connection between art, landscape, and cuisine. Together, these elements represent some of Italy’s strongest cultural attractions.
Ultimately, food and wine are not only pleasures of the table. They are also expressions of Italian identity, creativity, and memory. Through this initiative, Italy invites the world to experience culture in a delicious and meaningful way.
All posters from the January campaign dedicated to #annodelciboitaliano are available online.