Bel paese () or Belpaese is the classical poetical appellative for Italy, meaning the 'beautiful country' in Italian, due to its mild weather, cultural heritage, and natural endowment.
The usage of the term originated in the Middle Ages, being used by Dante Alighieri and Petrarch:
In 1876, Antonio Stoppani wrote ('The Beautiful Land, conversations on the natural beauties, geology, and physical geography of Italy'), which inspired the creation of Bel Paese cheese, made in Lombardy from cow's milk.
The term is currently widely used in modern Italian as in other languages as a synonym for Italy. It is commonly used as a term of endearment by members of the Italian diaspora, and it is often used to endorse or promote goodsBel Paese (cheese) and services both in Italy and abroad.
References