What Italian person invented penne pasta?

There's no one inventor credited with creating penne pasta. It's a fascinating story that goes back centuries!

Here's what we know:

* Early Forms: Pasta shapes like penne existed long before the name "penne" was used. Early iterations were likely made in the 15th century in the region of Campania, Italy. They were probably made by hand and not as uniform as the modern version.

* The Name: The word "penne" means "feathers" in Italian, and the pasta likely got its name because of its resemblance to a quill pen. It's believed the name was first used in the 18th century.

* Industrial Production: The development of the pasta-making machine in the 19th century led to the widespread production of standardized penne, making it the popular pasta shape we know today.

So, while we can't pinpoint a single person, the invention of penne pasta was a gradual process with contributions from many over time.