There are ice cream shop galore in the world. However, just a few can be defined real handmade "gelaterie" that pass down the art of ice creams to the new generations, together with one of the main flavors of the authentic Italian tradition.
Ice cream is the best "street-food" chosen by tourists who visit italy in summer: sunny days, hot temperatures and the longing to relax after a long walk in the main city centers make it a must-have during a tour!
But how can you recognize the "real" Italian ice-cream among theinnumerable shops found along the streets? Discover it with us!
Gelato is one of the best-loved sweets in Italy and abroad. It is a preparation made with fresh ingredients brought to a creamy state after a freezing process and it is mixed by the so-called "gelatiere" inside his laboratory. It contains eggs, sugar, milk, cream and other ingredients that define its flavor, such as chocolare, fresh fruit or pistachio nuts. The real ice-cream maker uses its personal laboratory to mix
fresh and high-quality ingredients, avoiding thickeners, emulsifiers or food dyers. This product must be prepared and eaten within 24 hours, because it is too fresh to resist longer. Its color is not too bright and the flavours proposed are often seasonal, as they depend on the available products at the moment. The texture is creamy and the temperature is neither cold nor hot. The taste is obviously amazing: since the first bite, you willrealize that this is a Gelato with capital G!
Do not make mistakes! In Italy, you will find hundreds of "fake" ice-cream shops that will just disappoint you with their products, so follow our tips!
Firstly, don't trust shops whose windows show mountains of ice-cream that reach surreal peaks and whose color is definitely too bright. These industrial preparations are full of food dyers and preservatives and they have nothing to do with Italian Gelato.
Moreover, we suggest cunsulting the top Italian ice-cream shop list by Gambero Rosso and starting organizing your dream holiday in Italy!
In Liguria, where we recommend Casa al Bosco, the guide advises "Cremeria Spinola" in Chiavari (Ge) and "Profumo" in Genova.
In Veneto, where we rent Ca’ Marcello, the guide awards "Golosi di natura" in Gazzo (Pd) and "Zeno Gelato e Cioccolato" in Verona.
In Tuscany, it recommends "Carapina" and "Gelateria della Passera" in Firenze, where we propose our Le Fonti, "La Chiccheria" in Grosseto, "De’ Coltelli" in Pisa, where you find our Villa De Ranieri and "Dondoli" ice-cream shop in San Gimignano (Si), where you can book Villa Orchidea.
In Latium, the guide recommends "Gretel Factory" in Formia (Lt), "Greed Avidi di Gelato" in Frascati (Rm), "Gelateria dei Gracchi", "La Gourmandise" and "Otaleg!" in Rome, which you will certainly visit when you choose to stay in our Villa Antici or I Gigli di Bolsena.
In Sardinia, finally, the guide suggest "Bar Centrale Gelateria Pizzeria" in Marrubiu (Or), while we recommend our wonderful Il Lentischio and Villa Silenis.
© Alice Pilastri
