Italy has a rich past, at one time, parts of the country were occupied by Etruscans, Spanish, French, Greek, Arabs, Austrian and Germans. Such occupations inevitably shaped the cuisine of Italy today. Italy was made up of separate and disputing states, till it was unified in 1861 by Giuseppe Garibaldi. Northern Italy The Romans who ruled Italy and at one time almost all of Europe, for about a thousand years has left a lasting effect on Cookery in Italy, they brought in a lot of local customs and foods of the countries they conquered.Respect for the basic produce and a feeling for the freshness and quality of the ingredients determines the lively seasonal variety of dishes. As result the range of products on offer is extensive and high in quality. Unadulterated taste and inspired simplicity are the main characteristics of Italian cookery, as well as health and economical attitude towards food and eating habits