Italy is one of the great sandwich nations of the world. A leader in cured meats, salami, and cheeses, the country is a hotbed of sandwich innovation, yet it is the classic panini that remain the most essential. Traveling across Italy, you'll find that the sandwiches vary greatly, even in towns just a few kilometers apart—the same way that one village prizes a certain shape of pasta, while a neighboring town uses another one (say, the lorighitta of Morgongiori in western Sardinia) that you're unlikely to find anywhere else in Italy. 

But there are a few classic sandwiches you must eat in your lifetime if you don't want to be saddled with regret on your death bed. (And remember to eat these pizzas, too.)