Sitting to the south of Rome, Campania has a history that is inextricably tied to the Roman Empire. The province was part of the Roman Republic from as far back as the fourth century BC, and continued to be an important part of the Empire for many centuries – the imposing walls of Naples famously rebuffed Hannibal and his elephants in the Second Punic War, and one only has to visit the ruins of Pompeii to get an idea of what life was like in Campania some two millennia ago.
Roman history has had a profound effect on the food eaten across the region too. The Romans always valued Campania for its vast pastureland and nutrient-rich soils, and many practices that continue to exist today started in Roman times. Fishing was a Roman staple too – the ancient towns of Amalfi, Cetara, Positano and Amalfi are famous today as picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but they started life as Roman fishing villages. Despite the increasing tourism trade, a significant portion of Italians still make a living from fishing along the Amalfi Coast, returning with hauls of seafood ranging from anchovies and sardines to squid and octopus.
Seafood, unsurprisingly, makes up the majority of the coastal diet, alongside a bevy of fresh fruit and vegetables – typical Mediterranean fare. As you get inland, there is ample grazing land available for livestock, making meat dishes more common. Although their origins are disputed, Campania is also home to native water buffalo, and has been for many, many centuries. Where there are buffalo, there is buffalo milk, and where there is buffalo milk, there is mozzarella di bufala – one of the great cheeses of the world.
Mozzarella, of course, leads us to the birthplace of another of the world's favourite foods – Naples – where the combination of fresh buffalo mozzarella, ripe, sun-kissed tomatoes and fresh bread created the very first pizza margherita over a century ago. The pizza is perhaps the best example of food in Campania – the simple combination of incredible fresh ingredients, where a few things come together to make something very special. Whether you're exploring the jaw-dropping coasts, the busy hectic thrum of Naples or venturing inland, Campania never disappoints. Find out more below about the ingredients, flavours and dishes that make up the cuisine of the region.
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The complete foodie guide to Campania
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