In partnership with Intrepid, Broadsheet hit the country’s high-speed railway through medieval cities and verdant countryside for a food-stuffed tour of north and central Italy. In a small group of 10 travellers and one local leader, we devoured Bologna’s trademark tagliatelle and tortelloni, Florence’s famous fiorentina steak, and Rome’s carbonara, cacio e pepe and ciambellini. We also sampled the cicchetti of Venice’s backstreet bacari, and the locally produced olive oil and wines of Tuscany, sure to mop up every last bit on our plate, as per the Italian ritual of la scarpetta.

Here’s how to eat your way through the country over eight abundant days.