Casa Artusi: Where Italy’s Culinary Identity Took Shape

During my recent visit to Emilia-Romagna, I had the privilege of spending time at Casa Artusi in Forlimpopoli — a place that is far more than a culinary venue.

It was there that I met Mattia Fiandaca, who generously guided me through the spaces and shared the deeper story behind this extraordinary institution. Walking through Casa Artusi with him brought the legacy of Pellegrino Artusi vividly to life.

Artusi’s 1891 masterpiece, La scienza in cucina e l’arte di mangiar bene, did more than compile recipes. It helped define a national culinary identity at a time when Italy itself was still young as a unified country. By collecting, testing and refining recipes from across the peninsula, Artusi created a shared gastronomic language — one rooted in rigour, clarity and respect for ingredients.

Casa Artusi stands today as the living embodiment of that vision.

Housed within a restored church complex, it includes a gastronomic library, teaching kitchens, event halls and dining rooms dedicated to preserving and evolving Italian culinary culture. It is at once academic and welcoming. Historic and dynamic. A place where knowledge is protected, but also practised.

As Mattia explained, Casa Artusi is not about nostalgia. It is about continuity. It safeguards tradition while ensuring that it remains relevant for contemporary audiences — chefs, scholars, travellers and cultural institutions alike.

Emilia-Romagna is rightly considered one of the gastronomic capitals of the world. From Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma to traditional balsamic vinegar and handmade pasta, the region’s products are globally revered. Casa Artusi provides the intellectual and cultural framework that underpins this excellence.

For Journeys Italy 2026, Emilia-Romagna will play a central role. Spending time at Casa Artusi reinforced for me that this region offers far more than exceptional food. It offers context, heritage and meaning.

I cannot wait to finalise the programme for Journeys Italy 2026 in Emilia-Romagna and to share how this remarkable region will welcome our international luxury buyers next November.

Because here, gastronomy is not simply served. It is understood.

Ciao for now

Micaela and the Journeys Team