Lazio

Lazio, Italy's third most populous, region includes Rome and a good deal more, although Rome hogs most of the attention.

In spite of the capital's wealth and fame, la cucina romana is fairly simple: artichokes in various forms, hearty pasta dishes (fettuccini and pappardelle, and pasta all'amatriciana) and secondi that include offal dishes such as pajata and trippa alla romana as well as saltimbocca alla romana. It's especially good for snack foods, from supplì to porchetta to Roman-style pizza al taglio.

The name comes from Latium, the land of the ancient Latin tribe who soon came to dominate the region—and the entire Mediterranean world.