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Italian cuisine could become UNESCO heritage site; decision to be made in December

UNESCO will decide in December whether Italian cuisine will be recognized as an intangible heritage of humanity.

UNESCO to assess Italian cuisine candidacy in December | Photo: Depositphotos
UNESCO to assess Italian cuisine candidacy in December | Photo: Depositphotos

UNESCO will discuss the candidacy of Italian culinary the intangible heritage of humanity. The decision will be taken during a meeting in India.

Before that, on November 10, the entity's technical opinion will be released. The document may recommend approval, rejection or postponement of the debate.

“In India, not only will the candidacy of Italian cuisine be evaluated, but also the idea that food can represent the cultural identity of a people,” stated Pier Luigi Petrillo, professor at Luiss University in Rome and author of the dossier presented by Italy, according to [source missing]. Handle.

If approved, it will be the first time that a cuisine as a whole has received this title, and not just individual traditional practices. “The dossier illustrates well the cultural significance of Italian cuisine, seen as an everyday gesture and a mosaic of diversity,” explained Petrillo, who said he was optimistic about the candidacy formalized in June 2023.

Italy has already sponsored the candidacy of the Mediterranean diet, recognized as intangible heritage by UNESCO in 2010. Since then, almost 10% of the entity's listings are linked to food.

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