Shaped like a double twisted loaf, this traditional bread is prepared with flour, pork lard, extra-virgin olive oil, sourdough, salt, water, and malt. Characterized by its golden color and a distinctive taste, coppia is a signature dish of Ferrara that evolved from the original versions of pane intorto (lit. twisted bread), which dates back to the 12th century.
Because of its distinctive shape, it is recommended to consume the elongated parts first, while the center can keep fresh for a longer time. In 2001, coppia was registered as a Protected Geographical Indication.
An approximate translation of the name of this popular French bread is “crustless bread”, referring to its thin layer of crust and thick white interior. The bread is made with wheat flour, water, salt, milk, sugar, and yeast. Although it is usually made industrially and sold sliced and packaged in supermarkets, it can also be made easily at home.
Pain de mie is typically baked in square or rectangular covered pans, which ensure its characteristic shape. The cover prevents the bread from rising fully, resulting in a fine, compact crumb. The French use it most often for toasting, while its thickness and shape make it ideal for the preparation of the classic French sandwich croque-monsieur.
Traditionally made since the Middle Ages, pane Toscano or pane sciocco is a variety of bread commonly found in the central Italian regions of Tuscany, Umbria, and the Marches. Back then, to show their displeasure with the imposed regulations and high taxes on salt, the Tuscans started baking their bread without salt, hence the name pane sciocco (lit. tasteless bread).
Due to its bland taste, the salt-free Tuscan bread is not quite intended for eating on its own, so it is typically served fresh from wood-fired ovens with cured meat products such as prosciutto, salami, or strong cheeses in order to balance out their saltiness and intense flavors.
Hornazo is a traditional delicacy made by stuffing bread with pork loin, hard-boiled eggs, and chorizo. The bread is made with flour and yeast, and the top is usually nicely decorated with various shapes made from the same dough. It has origins in Salamanca, and it is often prepared for Lunes de Aguas festival, celebrated annually on Easter Monday.
Nowadays, there are many variations on this festive bread, so it can be stuffed with anything from ham and cheese to tuna and smoked salmon.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Schüttelbrot is a traditional flatbread originating from South Tyrol, or to be precise, the Isarco valley, in particular in Fiè allo Sciliar. It's usually made with a combination of rye flour, wheat flour, yeast and sugar, salt, oil, and herbs and spices such as fennel, cumin, and fenugreek.
The seeds are crushed or pounded in a mortar, then kneaded into the dough. The dough is rolled flat – either paper-thin or a bit thicker – and it's then baked until crunchy and golden brown. If desired, whole rye kernels can also be added to the dough before baking, but the kernels should always be pre-soaked in warm water.
Ftira tar-randan is a Maltese bread made with flour, water, salt, yeast, and olive oil. The dough is traditionally shaped into balls which are then fried in a pan until golden brown. The bread is often drizzled with honey on top, then served while still warm.
Ftira tar-randan is especially popular during the month of Ramadan.
Categorized somewhere between a cookie and a rusk, biscotti del Lagaccio are named after a Genovese quarter where they were allegedly invented around 1593. In the beginning, they were simple double-baked biscuits made only with flour, butter, yeast, and sugar, but over time, the basic recipe was changed with the addition of wild fennel seeds and a few drops of anise liqueur, giving them their typical flavor.
Delicately sweet, biscotti del Lagaccio make a perfect breakfast or an afternoon snack, especially if paired with a cup of caffè latte or tea.
Pa de Pagès Català is a type of round bread traditionally made by hand and baked in bread ovens, in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. This bread has a crisp golden crust and is spongy and soft on the inside. It is usually made using white flour, and during the slow fermentation and baking, it develops characteristic large irregular air holes that give it springy consistency.
Another unique characteristic is its ability to retain freshness longer than other types of white bread. The quality of this artisan bread depends mostly on the bakers' expertise and experience. Pa de Pagès Català is a high quality, aromatic bread with pleasant acidity and a complex flavor.
Pan de Cea is a traditional type of bread made in the Municipality of San Cristovo de Cea, in the north-west of the Province of Ourense. It is made by kneading wheat flour, water, salt and masa madre, the previously fermented yeast dough, into an elastic and tough dough.
The bread dough is then left to ferment, or rest, for 45 to 60 minutes. The bread is then kneaded once more and baked in special, wood-burning granite ovens. These ovens are the characteristic feature of the production of this bread and are specially shaped to ensure uniform baking.
A real Tuscan specialty originating from the historical region of Garfagnana, schiacciata con ciccioli, locally known as ciaccia coi ciccioli, is a type of focaccia-style flatbread studded with crunchy pork cracklings. Its name stems from the Italian schiacciare which means "to press" or "to flatten".
In the past, this flavorful oven-baked delicacy was a staple food and the traditional primo colazione or the first morning meal of Tuscan farmers who used to enjoy their ciaccia with a glass of hearty red wine. Today, ciaccia coi ciccioli can be found in bakeries throughout Tuscany; it is freshly baked and dished up all day long, not just for breakfast.
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