In Italy the day usually starts at the neighborhood cafè, with a good espresso coffee (or a creamy cappuccino) and a flaky croissant. But there are so many traditional regional breakfasts to try to kick start your day. Here are are three favourite ones.

A soft and light leavened dough, divided in half by a generous tuft of delicious whipped cream: the maritozzo is the king of the Roman breakfast, symbol of the confectionery art of the capital, a gluttonous morning indulgence. The variant with whipped cream is the best known, but the historical recipe is the Lenten maritozzo, smaller size and darker, enriched with raisins, pine nuts and candied fruit, and not containing butter.