The Mediterranean Sea: a protected sea, a valued territory.

The Mediterranean Sea is not only a natural beauty but also a fundamental resource for millions of people. Its coasts have given rise to historic cities, trade routes, and cultural exchanges that still influence our societies today. July 8th is the International Day dedicated to celebrating it; this anniversary aims to raise public awareness about the need to protect this fragile and extraordinary ecosystem.

Italy, with its long coasts facing the Mediterranean, is among the countries that benefit the most from the wealth of this sea. Not only for tourism or fishing but also for the gastronomic variety that originates in coastal areas. Every region facing the sea boasts typical products related to maritime tradition, which enhance local ingredients and ancient knowledge.

The Mediterranean Sea: a bridge between flavors

The Mediterranean Sea is not just a vast expanse of water washing over three continents: it is, as previously mentioned, a meeting point between peoples, cultures, goods, and traditions. Since ancient times, this sea has represented a privileged route for trade and cultural exchanges between Europe, Africa, and Asia, and this has had a huge impact on Mediterranean cuisine.

The Mediterranean has been traversed by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards, all of whom have left their mark on local cultures, especially through food. Spices from the East, wheat from the Middle East, citrus from Asia, fish preservation techniques from Africa: everything arrived by sea.

The Mediterranean: identity products

Thanks to the mild and sunny climate, all the elements that characterize traditional dishes grow along the Mediterranean coasts, giving life to the Mediterranean diet, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible heritage. In this way, a common cuisine has been formed, but with thousands of local variants, made of simple, healthy, and adaptable ingredients, such as: olive oil, grapes, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cereals, vegetables, legumes, blue fish, fresh and dried fruits, and aromatic herbs like basil, rosemary, oregano, which enhance and elevate the dishes.

Here are just some of the typical Italian products linked to the Mediterranean coast:

• 🫒 Extra virgin olive oil: it is not just a condiment; it is also a natural preservative; indeed, the Mediterranean tradition uses oil to preserve vegetables in glass jars.

• 🍋 Mediterranean citrus fruits: Amalfi lemons, Sicilian blood oranges, Calabrian cedars. Brought by the Arabs, they have become symbols of many local recipes and beverages like limoncello.

• 🐟 Anchovies from Cetara: blue fish preserved in salt, also used to produce the prized anchovy extract.

• 🐟 Bluefin tuna: red tuna, a prized species fished around May when they migrate to the warm waters of the Mediterranean.

• 🧂 Bottarga from mullet: dried fish eggs, a symbol of coastal Sardinian cuisine.

• 🍷 Mediterranean wines like Vermentino, Fiano, Nero d'Avola, born from coastal lands rich in sun.

• 🧂 Capers from Pantelleria, grow wild on volcanic soils on the Sicilian island.

The Mediterranean: the best festivals and fairs

Throughout the year, some coastal cities organize fairs and festivals to enhance local catch and traditional coastal recipes with the aim of promoting the Mediterranean diet with their genuine and seasonal dishes. Through these authentic experiences, accompanied by folk music, crafts, and folklore, they invite the community to moments of conviviality and cultural exchange among maritime peoples.

Here are some dates to remember to experience this type of experience:

🐟 1. Fish Festival – 📍 Camogli (Liguria)

📅 Second weekend of May
A huge 4-meter frying pan fries hundreds of kilograms of blue fish for thousands of visitors. Born as a celebration for fishermen, it is now one of the most famous events dedicated to the sea.

🐠 2. Taranto Mussel Festival – 📍 Taranto (Puglia)

📅 June or July
The famous mussels of the Ionian Sea are the stars of typical dishes such as baked mussels, peppery mussels, and soups, accompanied by music and local folklore.

🐚 Cous Cous Fest – 📍 San Vito Lo Capo (Sicily)

📅 September
International couscous festival, symbol of Mediterranean cuisine and dialogue between peoples. Chefs from around the world prepare local and modern variants.

🐟 4. Sea Festival – 📍 Cesenatico (Emilia-Romagna)

📅 August
A historic celebration of fishing and maritime traditions: tastings, costume parades, historic regattas, and fish dishes from the Adriatic.

🐬 5. Cuttlefish Festival – 📍 Capraia Island (Tuscany)

📅 End of October / beginning of November
Gastronomic festival dedicated to the cuttlefish caught in the clear waters of the Tuscan Archipelago. The event combines sport fishing, local cuisine, and wild nature.

🐙 6. Octopus Festival – 📍 Massa (Tuscany)

📅 August
The octopus is prepared in every way: in salad, grilled, with potatoes, stew. Perfect for savoring the flavor of the Tyrrhenian Sea and local maritime culture.

🧂 7. Anchovy Extract Festival – 📍 Cetara (Campania)

📅 December
Cetara celebrates one of the oldest and most symbolic products of maritime tradition: anchovy extract, descendant of Roman garum, with tastings and workshops.

S&M