Google Becomes an Artisan with Made in Italy

Google’s Made in Italy page was recently published online and it is spectacular.

It is an enthralling encyclopedia of handmade Italian products that cannot be easily copied anywhere in the world. 

The information is so replete that most Italy buffs will certainly discover a few surprises themselves. Browse by map location, category, or view the entire slide and click for an in-depth look.

In its efforts to clarify and inform, Google shows us what mozzarella really looks like (to taste it, you should look for it in the Regions of Campania, Apulia, Molise and Lazio). Most of what you eat that is labeled mozzarella in the U.S., for instance, just doesn’t cut it once you’ve had the real deal. And how could it? How many water buffalo milking establishments have you seen back home?

Besides Mozzarella di Bufala, some of my personal favorites are Velvet from Nuoro, Umbrian Knitwear, Grosseto Saddles, Mozzarella di Bufala, and Goldsmithery of Crotone.

The Google Made in Italy page is very details-oriented when it comes to history and techniques.

The fact that certified and protected Made in Italy food, fashion, and other artisan products are ruled by intense, longstanding traditions that intertwine with the history and culture, climate and topography of any given spot on the map really hits home once you have been in Italy for a while. Having said that, Google’s new addition is excellent both as a primer and tool for further learning.

You can see it all at Google Made in Italy.

By the way, Italy’s official website for tourism, Italia.it, contains its own articles on Gastronomy and Made in Italy, and they are bursting with information and photos: I particularly like Emilia Romagna, Formula1 and Ferrari; Italy in Fashion; Sorrento and Limoncello and Turin and Its ChocolateTradition. The site is also social, so stay updated and  enjoy a little bit of Italy everyday via Facebook and Twitter.

Enjoy!