Meals in Italy contain no less than three to four courses, and up to eight courses. During holidays, many family meals will last for hours, sometimes for the whole day. Dining in Italy is seen not as consuming a meal, but as an opportunity to spend with friends and family. A normal, every day menu in Italy will include a first and second course, a side dish, and coffee. Expansive meals, or those during celebrations, will include all these courses and a few more. This is the traditional Italian meal. The meal courses are :
Antipasta - which is an appetizer course, served hot or cold depending on the dish.
Primo - this is the first course, and usually is a hot dish of pasta, polenta, or soup. 
Secondo - this is the second or main course. It is usually meat or fish. Veal, pork, and chicken are the most popularly used meats, although beef and wild game can also be found. If fish is used, you can bet that it is fresh fish that is caught locally. 
Contorno - this is the side dish, and normally consists of a salad or cooked vegetables. Traditionally, this dish will be served with the main course. 
Formaggio and Frutta - this is the cheese and fruit course, called the “first dessert”. 
Dolce - this is the dessert course, and consists of cakes and cookies. 
Caffe - this is the Coffee or Espresso course. After the rich sweetness of the Italian dessert course, the coffee course is a wonderful follow up. 
Digestivo - this is the final course, and consists of liquors. It is often referred to as the “coffee killer” course. 
 While all Italian Cuisine is delicious and flavorful, there are several dishes that are more popular in certain areas, and some that are unique to that area. 

 In Sicily, tuna, sea bream, sea bass, and swordfish are popular fish used in many of the main courses. Apricots, sugar, and citrus are also used in many dishes. 
 In Sardinia, suckling pig and wild boar roasted on the spit with hearty stewed beans, and vegetables with dry bread is a very popular meal. fresh herbs such as mint and myrtle are found in many Sardinian dishes. The bread in Sardinia is drier than in most areas, and keeps longer than higher moisture breads. Pistoccu, which is made with only flour and water is served with tomatoes, basil, oregano, garlic, and a strong cheese. 

 In Veneto, risotto with fish and seafood are served close to the coast. Farther from the coast, pumpkin, asparagus, radicchio, and frogs’ legs are used. Pasta de fagioli, a dish of beans and pasta is very popular in Veneto. 
 Fresh water fish is a very commonly found dish in Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtirol. Goulash with gnocchi and homemade sauerkraut are also dishes that are unique to this region. Lard is used also, as well as pasta, tomatoes, and olive oil in many dishes.In Lombardy, rice is a very popular ingredient, and is used in soups as well as risotto. Cheese is a very popular course in Lombardy. In Mantua, tortelli di zucca, which is ravioli with pumpkin filling, is found at the village festival, served with butter, and followed by turkey stuffed with chicken.

 In Emilia-Romagna, cured hams and mortadella are very popular dishes. Parmesan cheese is found in many dishes, and game meats are used often. Pasta is also a very popular food found here. Bologna serves wonderful mortadella and lasagna, and Piacenza is known as the home of tortellini.

 In Tuscany, the white truffle is the most popular ingredient for producing delicious dishes. These flavorful truffles are served during October and November. Legumes, bread, cheese, mushrooms, and fruits are all very popular foods in Tuscany. 
 While white truffles abound in Tuscany, Umbria is famous for their use of black truffles. Most dishes in the Umbria region are prepared by boiling and roasting and by adding local olive oil for flavoring, along with locally grown herbs. Sausage is also very popular, and made in Norcia. Freshwater fish like trout, perch, eel, and whitefish are used in many of the local Umbrian dishes. 

 These are only a few of the local dish customs that can be found throughout Italy. Many restaurants and delis are open all day, and there are certain restaurants that are only open for the dinner meal. 
 Some of the places that you will have the opportunity to visit, and dine on succulent Italian Cuisine are:
Agriturismo, which is a farm that offers accommodations and meals to their guests. 
 Bars or Caffe`s serve coffee, sodas, juice, and alcoholic beverages. Some foods that are served include Panini, spuntini, brioche, and tramezzini. 
 Birrerias are bars that serve beer produced in Italy.
Frasca/Locanda’s are winery’s that are open in the evenings and offer food with their wines. 
 Osteria’s serve simple foods that are local to the region in which they are located. 
Paninotecas are sandwich shops that are normally open only during the day.
 Pizzerias are of course pizza shops that serve pizzas made in wood fired ovens.
 Ristorantes are upscale dining restaurants, and serve fine Italian cuisine. 
 Spaghetterias offer pasta and other main dishes. 
A Tavola Calda is literally a “Hot Table” and serves already made dishes from a queue and served on a tray. 
A Trattoria is a family oriented restaurant, and normally has less expensive pricing, and a more informal atmosphere that upscale restaurants. 

 No matter what establishment you choose to dine in, you will undoubtedly experience a palate full of flavor. Dining in Italy is an experience that you will not forget. The only problem may be eating too much. Maybe that’s why the scenery surrounding Italy is beautiful and peaceful. You may need to walk off some of your dinner, and there’s no more beautiful place on earth to do that than in Italy.