... which is as old as the puritan settlement in North America. In Tossignano, near Bologna, eating Polenta with granoturco (corn) is known since 1622. There are some equivalents in Europe, like the austrian Sterz or slovenian/croatian Žganci. Until the 20th century, such cornmeals were much more known in the lower classes in Europe, but vanished later. Until today, Polenta is the tipical dish of Northern Italy, with many different variants and even own corn races in Italy.
The high consume of corn in northeastern Italy (Trent, Veneto, Friuli) was one of the motives for the feared disease of
Pellagra, which was an endemic disease until the first half of 20th century.
Xe mèjo polenta in casa soa che rosto in casa di' altri.
(It's better to have some polenta at home, then roasted beef in the neighbours house)
In conclusion, thanks God for being born a Venetian, as all the rest of the world, when compared with the policy and justice of the Signory, is nought.
(Vincenzo Querini, ambassador of the most Serene Republic of Venice, 16th century)