Although it is important to say “ciao” (“hello”) and you want to ask “quanto costa?” (how much does it cost?”), the most important question to know if you are a celiac traveling in Italy is “è questo senza glutine?” (“is this without gluten?”). And thankfully due to the country embracing the dietary restrictions that come with this auto-immune disease, the answer is often a resounding “si!” (That’s a YES!)

Yay! Who knew? Actually a lot of people have already discovered what would seem to be an anomaly. Gluten free food in the land of pasta, pizza, tiramisu and gelato? Oh yes. Not just at a few little gluten free restaurants, but all over the country.

You see, it all starts at the top with the government. Schools, hospitals, and public places (think museums) must have gluten free food available for the growing number of people who need it. Good food is such an important part of the Italian culture. Food is love in Italy, so it makes sense that Italians want everyone to be able to experience their delicacies. And if you have celiac disease this is music to your ears.

Besides the countless gluten free options in grocery stores, many restaurants offer gluten free alternatives to the traditional Italian fare. The Associazione Italiana Celiachia (or AIC) ensures that there are plenty of restaurants in their Gluten Free Eating Out Program. In fact there are more than 4000 establishments on the list. In order to be on the list, restaurants must go through AIC training to learn about the gluten free diet and how to ensure their kitchens are safe from cross contamination for celiac diners. The AIC has a mobile app to make it easy for visitors and locals to find safe restaurants throughout Italy.

You can eat a lot of great gluten free food in Italy, but you can also learn how to make it while you are there! There are many cooking schools that offer gluten free classes. Imagine learning how to make (gluten free) pasta while in Italy! Mama Isa’s Cooking School near Venice is one of the top rated cooking schools in Italy. Mama Isa’s is rated 5 out of 5 stars and is currently number 4 on TripAdvisor’s list of "Classes & Workshops in Venice”. The New York Times rates it as one of the Top 5 cooking schools in Italy, and Food & Wine lists it as one of the top 20 cooking schools in Italy. Mama Isa’s gluten free class is 4 hours long then you get a chance to sit and enjoy the fruits of your labor when you are done. You can learn how to make fresh pasta or lots of other Italian recipes - all without gluten. Mama Isa assures her clients that the cooking space will be free from cross contamination which is vital for celiacs. Mama Isa’s even offers a 3-day and 6-day gluten free course! All of her classes hold a maximum of 10 people so you get specialized attention from Mama Isa and her sous chef. The recipes are made using almond four, corn meal flour, rice flour, buckwheat, maize flour and coconut instead of regular gluten flour. The gluten free courses are available by request only so it is important to book it when you know your travel dates. Mama Isa’s is located in Padua which is about a 30 minute train trip from Venice and is a great city to visit for a day (or longer!). It is a city filled with culture and history and there are plenty of sites to see while you are in the area.

So is your mouth watering yet? If you want to visit Italy and you would like to try Mama Isa’s Cooking School plus many other ventures tailored to your specific needs and desires, let us do all the work for you! Ready to book? Contact us today! You’ll be saying “grazie” in no time!