When embarking on a journey, the final destination is as important as the route you took to get there. All travellers know that to fill their stomachs after a long walk, be it in a city of art or through unspoiled nature, they must stop and enjoy a local meal: a small break to recharge their batteries before the next adventure.

Street Food, known in Italian as "cibo di strada", is the ideal solution for these moments: fast and tasty, this street art can bring your tastebuds the true flavour of a place, thanks to the local availability of ingredients and the traditional recipes that are shared and reinvented.

In this article, we collected the 5 best Italian Street Foods for all travellers. Are you ready for the journey?

Street Food in Italy: the Top 5 from Terre dei Gigli

Osteria all'Arco (Venice)

The cicchetto is a way of life

Every self-respecting Venetian was born and raised on 'cicchetti', traditional small snacks that are eaten with a glass of wine at the Bacari, characteristic taverns that populate Venice. Going for cicchetti is not just a way of life, it's also a gourmet way of discovering the aromas and flavours of a city: from 'sarda in saor' (sardines in sauce) to a portion of 'nervetti', you will feel like you've never travelled so far! We recommend the Osteria all'Arco, a unique place where it's easy to experience an authentic Venetian atmosphere straight away.

Try ordering a creamed cod canapé and a glass of prosecco at the bar, and then relax with your feet dangling over one of the city's many wonderful canals.

La Folperia (Padua)

Fresh fish everyday

La Folperia is a small kiosk in the heart of Padua that offers the highest quality street food to locals and tourists everyday. Seafood in all its forms is the speciality of owners Max and Barbara: from the famous 'folpetti' (boiled octopus), to 'bovoletti' (small molluscs), to 'masenette' (crabs) and much more. If you are looking for a unique aperitif, stop here: Padua's 'sapori del mare' (flavours of the sea) will make you want to stay for dinner too!

We recommend: feast on prawn meatballs while sitting on the steps of Piazza della Frutta.

Tortellino (Bologna)

One of the best things to try in Bologna is the unmissable walk under the porticos with a steaming bowl of tortellini. Thanks to Il Tortellino, now you can experience both things at once: in fact, you can eat tortellini on-the-go, in a takeaway bowl with a wooden fork and spoon. But there are many more dishes from the local Emilian tradition to try, and Il Tortellino can help with that too: you can also take lasagna and tagliatelle with you while exploring Bologna and its flavours.

We recommend: an 'Emilian tasting' after the exhausting walk up to the Sanctuary of San Luca.

All’Antico Vinaio (Florence)

Chianti, Chianti and again Chianti!

Crostini, meatballs, sandwiches and a series of typical Florentine tastings at an old winery reopened in 1999. A corner of paradise for lovers of rustic flavours, and a selection of street food that fills the stomachs of locals and tourists every year. Their speciality? 'La favolosa': a flatbread stuffed with creamed pecorino and sbriciolona (fresh pork sausage flavoured with fennel seed and wine).

We recommend: a walk in the Boboli Gardens, the ideal place to digest your 'favolosa'!

Nino u’ Ballerino (Palermo)

Palermo has a street food king: his name is Antonino "Nino" Buffa. His speciality is 'pani ca’ meusa', a sandwich made with spleen that is a typical street food in the city. Nino is a local institution and a place where you can savour the true flavours of Sicily: the menu also includes arancini (rice balls), bread and panelle (chickpea fritters), croquets, octopus salad and lots more on his seemingly endless list.

We recommend: pani ca’ meusa as your go-to lunch on a trip to Mondello

And you? Can you recommend any other Italian street food to us? Tell us in the comments!