Only in Italy….

Precious jewels, gold, and items of priceless value – most people store such items in a bank’s vault. But come to Italy, and you’ll find banks that store something even more valuable:

Parmigiano-Reggiano.

 

Yes, cheese. And a lot of it. Two armored banks, located in the heart of Parmigiano-Reggiano country, protect under the highest security about 432 thousand wheels (!) of Parmigiano-Reggiano – for their traditional 24 months of aging naturally. Forget gold. These wheels have a value of over 190 million euros and are a sort of safety net for the banks for the loans they provide the producers of Parmigiano and Grana; because should any of them go in default, the bank can sell the cheese directly on the debt.

But that’s not all! The banks even monitor all stages of the aging process and prepare the certifications required for the prized cheese. For producers, this means being able to get the means necessary to carry on their businesses.

Parmigiano-Reggiano is no laughing matter. And if you’ve tried the true stuff, aged for 24 months in a bank vault, you too will understand why it’s taken so seriously.

About Charis McCullough

Charis decided to move to Italy six years ago after an incredible three month visit to the beautiful and untouched region of Abruzzo changed her vision of the world. She fell in love with the Italian culture, the language, history, art, and especially the food, wine, and coffee, and after getting a fine arts degree from Rome's Accademia di Belle Arti, she never looked back. She now works as a translator and social media manager for a wedding planner as well as a freelance painter, writer, and guide, introducing visitors to the authentic side of this beautiful country that she so loves, a side that makes them too want to move here to live la bella vita and never go back.