Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin World Pasta Day is celebrated on October 25 each year. Italy, the world leader in pasta production and consumption, is known for its wide variety of pasta shapes and sauce combinations. There are roughly 350 different pasta shapes in Italy, each with a unique culinary heritage.

Since 1998, World Pasta Day (which originated in Rome in 1995) has been celebrated worldwide on October 25th. The day pays homage to this universally pleasing comfort food. The non-profit International Pasta Organization spearheads campaigns to promote pasta consumption by creating awareness of its health benefits and accessibility.

One initiative involves sponsoring the annual World Pasta Congress held in different cities each year on World Pasta Day. This year, 250 pasta makers, institutional representatives, scientists, journalists, and food influencers met in Philadelphia as the organization joined the 100 Billion Meals Challenge, pledging to donate one billion plates of pasta to the world’s poorest people. There are roughly 350 different types and shapes of pasta in Italy.

The Flavors of Emilia Romagna Although you’ll find pasta on the menu in every one of the country’s 20 regions, many consider the Emilia Romagna region to be the epicenter of Italian pasta. If you're planning a trip to Emilia Romagna (nicknamed The Food Valley), here are five essential pasta dishes you shouldn't miss, each representing the region's rich culinary tradition.