Rome, Italy, November 27, 2007A lucky Italian trader has found buried treasureof a sort.

Cristiano Savini and his father recently unearthed this 3.3-pound (1.5-kilogram) truffle in the Tuscany countryside after digging for more than an hour, according to wire reports. The mushroom, found by Savini's truffle-sniffing dog, is one of the largest discovered in the past half-century.

Prized in Italian cuisine for their pungent flavor, truffles are extremely rare and can fetch thousands of dollars an ounce. Savini's truffle was on display in Rome to publicize a planned auction, which is expected to bring in more than $200,000 (U.S.).

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