{"id":567,"date":"2024-05-29T05:28:16","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T21:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/the-6-best-places-for-gelato-in-italy\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:05","slug":"the-6-best-places-for-gelato-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=567","title":{"rendered":"The 6 best places for gelato in Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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No country does gelato quite like Italy, whose gelatai<\/i> rival Renaissance masters in dedication to their craft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In general, gelato contains less fat than ice cream, resulting in a distinctively creamy density. And unlike Roman carbonara or Sicilian arancini, high-quality gelato crops up throughout the country. Flavors, then, invite regional idiosyncrasies, such as Liguria\u2019s basil gelato and Amalfi\u2019s lemon version.<\/p>\n

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Regardless of where you go, gelato enclosed in metal tins is a sign of quality (as opposed to the the heaping, open-air containers you\u2019ll see at tourist hot spots);\u00a0use this as a visual cue to choose a gelateria<\/i>. Yet as with any rule, there are exceptions. So when in doubt, try a few places, since a gelato will set you back at most a few euros.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You shouldn\u2019t have any doubt about the places below, however \u2013 any of which will tempt you to order a second portion. These are my six favorite gelaterie<\/i> in Italy.<\/p>\n

\"Cappadonia
Cappadonia has three locations across Palermo, so you’re never far from your next sweet treat. Anna Staropoli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Cappadonia, Palermo<\/h2>\n

Forget the question of cup or cone: gelato in Sicily calls for a vessel of brioche, creating a literal ice cream sandwich. For proof of the pairing\u2019s success, head to Cappadonia, which uses locally sourced ingredients, often from regional farmers. Across its three Palermo locations, Cappadonia particularly excels in Sicily\u2019s trademark pistachio. The gelateria<\/i>\u2019s version appears muted when compared to the electric green tubs found elsewhere \u2013 indicating that what\u2019s inside matters more than appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to make it happen:<\/b> Visit Cappadonia on Via Vittorio Emanuele right when it opens at 10am. Sicilian brioche classifies as breakfast, which means gelato con brioche<\/i> is \u2013 yes \u2013 acceptable early in the day. To further embrace the island\u2019s breakfast customs, head to nearby Casa Stagnitta, which makes Palermo\u2019s best granita, an icier alternative to gelato.<\/p>\n

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Pav\u00e9 extends its excellence in pastries to the creamy stuff at its two Milan gelato shops. Pav\u00e9 Milano<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Pav\u00e9, Milan<\/h2>\n

The last time I visited Milan, I went to Pav\u00e9 on Via Felice Casati every morning for a fig tart. When I realized my all-time favorite bakery also operated two gelaterie<\/i>, I headed there straight away. Indeed, Pav\u00e9 treats its gelato with the same attention to detail as any of its flaky croissants \u2013 yet Pav\u00e9 Gelati is at its best when blurring the lines between the two. The holiday season, for example, yields a panettone-based gelato, while a toasted, gelato-stuffed bombolone<\/i>, Italy\u2019s answer to a donut, is available year round.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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How to make it happen: <\/b>Pav\u00e9\u2019s Via Cesare Battisti gelateria<\/i> opens and closes earlier than the one on Via Cadore, so plan accordingly. At both, Pav\u00e9 also bills itself as a granita shop, and sells Sicilian-style granita and fruit sorbets.<\/p>\n

\"Gelato
Come il Latte’s gelato is best served in their homemade cones. Anna Staropoli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Come il Latte, Rome<\/h2>\n

I frequently visit Rome, not to marvel at the Colosseum but to return to my happy place: Come il Latte. The gelateria<\/i>\u2019s name means \u201cLike Milk,\u201d and its flavors range from fun (Ciao is gelato with blue cheese gelato) to fundamental (a stellar Fior di Latte, and a mascarpone cookies-and-cream). Come il Latte truly shines in how it serves its gelato: in homemade cones, topped with a drizzle of your choice of chocolate. The effect is akin to an artisanal Drumstick \u2013 just one you won\u2019t find at any ice cream truck.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to make it happen:<\/b> Visit Come il Latte in tandem with another Roman necessity: pinsa<\/i>, the local flatbread-like style of pizza. Pair your gelato with a few slices from Pinsere, an unassuming yet top-notch pizzeria just up the street on Via Flavia. It\u2019s up to you which course comes first.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The hazelnut gelato at La Strega Nocciola is so good, they named the business after it. La Strega Nocciola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. La Strega Nocciola, Florence and Rome<\/h2>\n

As a summer intern in Florence, I took most of my lunch breaks at La Strega Nocciola, which translates to \u201cThe Hazelnut Witch.\u201d It was indeed their crisp yet sweet hazelnut flavor that bewitched me into returning day after day. La Strega Nocciola prides itself on using natural, in-season ingredients (exhibit A: that divine hazelnut), and offers both dairy-free and less-traditional flavors, such as cinnamon with white chocolate.<\/p>\n

How to make it happen: <\/b>Steps from Florence\u2019s Duomo, the compact Via Ricasoli location tends to be crowded throughout the afternoon. Opt instead for the larger Via de\u2019 Bardi shop, which draws fewer customers, even with its proximity to Ponte Vecchio.<\/p>\n

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There are many flavors to choose from at Dassie, but one reigns supreme: chocolate. EQRoy\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Dassie, Treviso<\/h2>\n

While Treviso\u2019s family-run Dassie is in Northern Italy, it serves some of the country\u2019s best chocolate gelato \u2013 if not the<\/i> best. In 2010, Stefano Dassie won the Italian Championship of Gelato Makers; just a few years later, Dassie received Gambero Rosso\u2019s award for best chocolate gelato. That chocolate comes light and creamy, yet strong in flavor: the product of high-quality ingredients.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to make it happen: <\/b>Dassie runs five Italian gelaterie<\/i>, most in or around central Treviso, which is widely known as the birthplace of tiramisu. While chocolate remains Dassie\u2019s magnum opus, the gelateria<\/i> has offered a tiramisu flavor to celebrate Treviso\u2019s Tiramis\u00f9 World Cup. If you ever see the option on Dassie\u2019s menu, don\u2019t hesitate: you can kill two dessert birds with one\u2026cone.<\/p>\n

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When in Reggio Calabria, it\u2019s hard to miss Cesare \u2013 and you really shouldn\u2019t. Stefano Guidi\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Cesare, Reggio Calabria\u00a0<\/h2>\n

When visiting Reggio Calabria, you won\u2019t have to look hard to find Cesare: if the gelateria<\/i>\u2019s snaking line doesn\u2019t give it away, its sea-foam-green exterior (and, after dark, its bright neon signage) surely will. The kiosk\u2019s vibrant shade mirrors the adjacent Mediterranean \u2013 though Cesare is far more than just a pretty facade. The Southern Italy institution has held its coastal locale since 1918, serving gelato in flavors both classic and deeply Calabrian. Opt for the bergamot or tartufo<\/i> flavor, both of which have regional roots.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to make it happen:<\/b> You can\u2019t eat inside this grab-and-go gelateria<\/i>, so take your serving for a stroll along the Lungomare. One of Italy\u2019s most scenic stretches, the palm-tree-framed pathway follows the curve of the Mediterranean, with Sicily in the distance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More you need to know about gelato<\/h2>\n

Depending on where you go, some shops \u2013 such as Rome\u2019s historic Giolitti \u2013 may have you pay for your gelato size before you choose and receive your flavors. Don\u2019t be alarmed if the ordering process seems, well, out of order. Every gelateria<\/i> follows its own system\u00a0\u2013 and each one knows what it is doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oh, and if you\u2019re more of a sundae person, use the phrase \u201ccon panna<\/i>\u201d to enjoy a dollop of fresh cream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No country does gelato qu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-italy-travel-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=567"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1116,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/567\/revisions\/1116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}