Italian Cheese

There are hundreds of different cheeses made in the various Italian regions. Italians can be fiercely loyal to there regional food and cheeses can be a major part in defining the local food culture.

There are a few dozen cheeses that you should know about, and these are widely available throughout the world. But if you travel to Italy you will find plenty of local cheeses, and some locals to sing their praises.

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Types of Italian Cheese

Italian cheeses are made mainly from cows milk, but a few are also made from sheep milk, goats milk and the famous mozzarella cheese is made from buffalo milk.

The most famous cheeses are produced and marketed under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) system which defines the area where the cheese is produced and the methods of production used.

The list below shows how most Italian regions have several cheeses. A few are produced in two or more adjoining regions, for example Caciocavallo Silano is produced in several southern Italian regions.

• Aosta Valley Fontina, Valle d’Aosta Fromadzo
• Basilicata Caciocavallo Silano, Pecorino di Filiano
• Calabria Caciocavallo Silano
• Campamia Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, Caciocavallo Silano, Provolone del Monaco
• Emilia-Romagna Formaggio di Fossa di Sogliano, Grana Padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Provolone Valpadana
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia Montasio
• Lazio Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, Pecorino Romano, Ricotta Romana
• Lombardy Bitto, Formaggella del Luinese, Formai de Mut from Alta Valle Brembana, Gorgonzola, Grana Padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Provolone Valpadana, Quartirolo Lombardo, Taleggio, Valtellina Casera
• Marche Casciotta d'Urbino, Formaggio di Fossa di Sogliano
• Molise Caciocavallo Silano
• Piedmont Bra, Castelmagno, Gorgonzola, Grana Padano, Murazzano, Raschera, Robiola di Roccaverano, Taleggio , Toma Piemontese
• Puglia Caciocavallo Silano, Canestrato Pugliese
• Sardinia Fiore Sardo, Pecorino Romano,Pecorino Sardo
• Sicily Pecorino Siciliano, Piacentinu Ennese , Ragusano, Vastedda della valle del Belìce
• Trentino-Alto Aldige Asiago, Grana Padano, Provolone Valpadana, Spressa delle Giudicarie, Stelvio or Stilfser
• Tuscany Pecorino Romano, Pecorino Toscano
• Veneto Asiago, Casatella Trevigiana, Grana Padano, Monte Veronese, Piave, Provolone Valpadana, Taleggio