A stop at the grocery store is a ritual whenever I arrive in and depart from Italy, where I’ve lived on and off for years. My return visits to Sicily always begin with stocking up on the staples: milk, coffee and pasta. Then, before I leave, I stuff my suitcase with specialty items to take back.
I’m not the only one who carves out precious time in Italy for a visit (or several!) to the grocery store: in recent years, videos about Italian supermarkets have racked up millions of TikTok views. Whether you visit an ultra-modern Carrefour or a traditional open-air market, you’ll get a sense of how Italians actually shop, eat and, well, live. It’s a cultural immersion of sorts.
