Best places to go for cheese in Italy

Melbourne-based, Sicilian-born artisan cheesemaker Giorgio Linguanti is so obsessed with Italian cheese, he’s written a book about it.

“There’s a cheese for every mood,” he says. Burrata: A Journey Through Craft, Flavour and Tradition is available on the Amore Cheese owner’s website. Giorgio moved to Australia in 2004 and despite having no experience, found work at a Melbourne cheese factory. There, he discovered his passion for artisan cheesemaking. Now he travels to Italy to taste Italian cheese and learn more about how it’s made.

“Tasting cheese in different parts of Italy makes every place feel more alive. The smell of the land, the atmosphere, the noises on the streets, everything is so romantic in Italy,” he says. “Each region has its own distinct approach and specialty, from the creamy richness of the north to the sharper, more aged varieties of the south. Travelling through Italy is like taking part in a living tradition, every cheesemaker has a story.”

Eat local

Puglia is the birthplace of burrata. The entire region celebrates this cheese in countless ways, and you’ll find incredible antipasto platters and pasta dishes featuring fresh burrata in many local trattorias. La Burrateria Gallipoli is known for its high-quality burrata served in every dish, including savoury and sweet, and traditional Salento-style dishes, such as puccia, a traditional Italian street food bread stuffed with cheese, cured meats and vegetables.

Sandwich spot

There is a very traditional family-run deli in the heart of Monopoli in Bari called La Tradizione del Formaggio. It’s filled with local shoppers and has an incredible range of premium local cheeses, including super-fresh burrata and stracciatella, and everything to go with them, from smallgoods to great antipasto, and homemade focaccia. You can also ask them to make you sandwiches with freshly sliced meats and cheese.

Say cheese

Sicily has a few fantastic cheese festivals. The Ricotta Cheese Festival is held in the town of Vizzini on April 25 every year, with local cheesemakers preparing the ricotta calda in the town square. There are cheese stands, live music, and lots of food for the locals and tourists to enjoy. Another fantastic festival is Cheese, a biannual event in Bra, Piedmont. This week-long event is entirely dedicated to cheese and offers a truly immersive experience.

Farm life

There is a remarkable organic farm in Puglia called Querceta. It’s dedicated to sustainable agriculture and completely organic. You can visit for tours and they also produce small goods, oil and many other products onsite. The place is surrounded by rolling hills, olive groves, and pastures. It’s an incredible experience that connects you to rural Puglia.

Highs and lowsFresh eyes

Every time I return to Italy, I explore it like a tourist. When you grow up in a place, you often take it for granted, but seeing it through fresh eyes lets you rediscover its beauty. I visit churches, museums, and restaurants, and take the time to truly appreciate each place.

Stranded in Dubai

In 2024, on the way to Italy to finalise my book, I got stuck in Dubai due to floods. When I finally arrived in Sicily, the car rental company left me stranded. I got to my accommodation, and then got food poisoning before attending a cheese festival, which was devastating.

Jenny HewettTravel writer

From a young age, Sydney-based freelance travel writer Jenny Hewett learned to really immerse herself in a destination. She grew up riding bikes in Canberra, skiing in South Korea and eating roti canai in Malaysia, and as an adult has lived and worked in Dubai and Bali. She’s an expert solo traveller and has stayed at more luxury hotels than she can count. Jenny has a special interest in emerging destinations and expedition travel, particularly Antarctica, and is passionate about skiing, small-ship cruising, and wildlife and nature.