Italy shows its true colors
Italians like their breakfast sweet
A croissant, a cornetto, preferably filled with jam or cream, is the perfect way to start the day with a small, strong espresso. That's all you really need. Tourists in hotels are often faced with a wide selection of cakes and small sweet pastries. They often only find cheese or cold cuts tucked away in the far corner. Serving something savory for breakfast is a concession by Italians to the eating habits of foreign guests.
In the afternoon
In the afternoons, the charming pastry shops are a popular destination. Their display cases are overflowing with cakes and cookies, perfect for taking to a café terrace for leisurely conversation. Each region has its own typical pastries. In Piedmont, hazelnut pastries are essential; in Tuscany, the soft almond cookies Ricciarelli; and in Sicily, filled cannoli are a favorite.
At Christmas time
During the Christmas season, panettone takes center stage, while at Easter, the colomba, a large cake shaped like a dove, dominates the displays. This fluffy yeast pastry is similar to panettone. The colomba is decorated with almonds and pearl sugar, and the dough is sometimes flavored with lemon or orange blossom water.
