Ice cream can be traced back to 1200BC and Mesopotamia, and early versions were invented all over the world; the turning point came during the Renaissance when the modern gelato emerged.

Live the Robinson Crusoe lifestyle with all the mod cons on one of these beautiful islands where social distancing is not an issue

It may have a German city in its French name, but eau de cologne was made by an Italian man – and it was originally sold as a medicinal drink, not as a type of perfume. A museum dedicated to its true origins has opened in Italy.

You won’t find beaches or tropical weather, but instead views of mountains, and wild birds for neighbours, if you buy a private island in Europe. From the lakes of Finland to the seas off Greece, privacy can be yours.

Pasta was eaten in the Mediterranean region many centuries before Marco Polo was born, and China wasn’t the influence people think, say food historians. Ancient texts and artefacts from Pompeii bolster their argument.

Social distancing and staying at home are easy for a man who lives alone, as the sole resident of an abandoned village in the Lombardy Alps. His advice to those in coronavirus lockdown: use the time to meditate on what really matters in life.

Spring is the season of ‘rebirth’, the egg represents life itself, but did you know there is a kinky side to the Easter bunny?

Covid-19 has put the breaks on this year’s celebrations – but there’s more to Easter than bunnies and chocolate; many cultures cling to timeworn traditions that are often baffling to outsiders

When an Italian thinks about coffee, it’s jet black – but things are changing, and non-Italian, American-style speciality coffee drinks are taking hold

A family favourite in the UK and US – but don’t expect to find this cheesy, gooey dish on the menu in Italy

Mostly grown in one of Italy’s poorest regions, bergamot is prized for the oil it produces that has long been used in perfumes and tea. Now its popularity is soaring – especially in Asia – thanks to a growing use in things like food and juices.

The traditional Neapolitan dish began as a poor man’s meal but evolved into Italy’s beloved comfort food – but the staple ingredients were chosen for more than taste alone

Why would anyone combine cheese with chocolate spread – and more importantly, how does it taste?

Piedmont’s bagna càuda hot garlic soup is said to have been invented by a witch to ward off infertility and increase reproduction – but why should it be consumed via unconventional orifices?

Icelandic people eat rotten shark known as hákarl while Colombians feast on roasted leafcutter ants – all because of the apparent libido-boosting effects

More Chinese millennials are choosing Italy for their destination weddings, with the average celebration costing over US$90,000. We talk to the planners who do everything they can to put together the perfect event.

Carnival in Venice, Italy, is often linked to funny and terrifying masks, along with pageantry, allegorical wagons, dancers and extravagant costumes

Wealthy Chinese happily outbid their rivals for Italy’s largest and finest white truffles, drawn to their prestige and mysterious nature. But the strong, earthy flavour is also a big draw, as is the beauty of the land in which they are found.

Even the most conservative of Italians can’t get enough of the sexy cakes that are meant to look like small, firm breasts

Customs include sleeping in coffins, having sex the night before the new year, and smashing crockery

Cheese and other dairy products have not been historically popular in China, but imports are increasing, and cheese ambassadors from Europe are working to break into a market that is potentially the world’s biggest.

More Chinese tourists have visited Italy this year than any other European country, with many seeking out places that offer space and solitude – a trend that is helping revitalise depopulated villages in rural areas of the country.

Italy’s seasonal sweet bread is soft and fruity, yet tougher than tiramisu – but is it really better than Christmas cake?

The traditional Italian dish is a semi-liquid cornmeal mush that doesn’t look appealing, but wives know that it is a potent sex booster and a ‘reproduction’ culinary secret

One of the most frequent mistakes tourists make when travelling to Italy is ordering spaghetti bolognese – a guaranteed way to conjure a confused, or concerned, waiter

Dating back to Ancient Rome and literally meaning ‘ugly blood’ in Italian, innuendo-inducing sanguinaccio is a huge salami-shaped tube of meat or chocolate, made with pig blood and believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac

A year’s production of Nutella would wrap around the Earth 1.7 times – but where does the chocolate spread come from?

The weird story of how white chocolate was made is surprisingly tied to medicines and energy-booster formulas discovered by its creator, Henri Nestlé

Gorgonzola and Roquefort’s origins are said to be in the ninth century. However, a recent publication suggests that Roquefort could go back even earlier, to when southern France was part of the Roman Empire

It’s official: spumante trashed champagne at this year’s wine awards – but what is the story behind this bubbly Mediterranean upstart?