Coming to Italy you should know that the best way to make Italian friends is through their love of Italian food. There is nothing that is closer to any Italian’s heart then food (and their mothers). I know what you are thinking, it confirms the stereotype right? but it is also something that I have come to appreciate with Italians. It all comes down to caring and respect, so the best way to get to know any Italians (generally speaking) is to respect their passions and to talk about food. To help you on the way I will here provide a short pasta guide on the many different types of pasta. Here is a simplified pasta guide on a selection of the most common types of pasta in Italy:

#1 Bucatini

This is a type of pasta that looks like a bigger spaghetti and has a hole in it. It is typically served with: pancetta, vegetables, amatriciana, eggs, anchovies or sardines.

#2 Cannelloni

Shaped like a cylinder and served with a filling of cheese or meat sauce. Usually served with a tomato sauce.

#3 Farafelline

This literally means butterflies and they have that name because the pasta kind of looks like small butterflies, or bows. Usually comes with creamy sauces or simple tomato sauce.

#4 Fettuccine

This pasta is flat strips and usually served with artichoke and pancetta, fresh truffel, or mushrooms.

#5 Lasagna

This dish has the sauce and flat-shaped pasta cooked together: different layers of flat pasta with tomato sauce and meat sauce between each layer and finally a lot of cheese.

#6 Tortellini

These are also filled pasta dumpling but in a round shape and usually stuffed with ricotta or meat.

#7 Pappardelle

This looks like a wider fettuccine, flat and wide pasta strings. Is very tasty to eat with mushroom or pancetta.

#8 Linguine

This pasta looks like flattened spaghetti and is delicious together with vongole (clams), or seafood such as lobster or anchovies.

#9 Penne

Short tubes of pasta that has been diagonally cut at both ends and usually served with pesto, marinara, or arabbiata, ragù (meat sauce).

#10 Ravioli

A type of flat and square shaped dumplings filled with ricotta, spinach, or ham. This pasta is particular because it is already filled with flavors, therefore the sauces tends to be simple like olive oil or tomato sauce.

#11 Tagliatelle

Flat pasta strings but narrower then fettuccini and wider than spaghetti. Often served with ragù, breadcrumbs and nuts, or tomatoes and basil.

#12 Spaghetti

Do we even need to describe them? The most classical pasta there is! Seen in every typical Italian movie and served with garlic and olive oil, vongole (clams), tomato sauce, or cheese sauce.