Visit to Europe's Oldest Confectionery Including Candy Tasting
Genoa, Italy
Trip Type: Food Tours
Duration: 60 minutes
In an 1881 letter to a friend, composer Giuseppe Verdi wrote that the confectioner Pietro Romanengo fu Stefano could ‘exquisitely candy any sort of fruit.’ And he was right. This tour delves into that same candied fruit Verdi wrote about and much, much more. Pietro Romanengo fu Stefano, established way back in 1780, is the oldest confectionery shop in Europe. Kings and courtiers, celebrities and superstars have all stopped in for a sweet fix. Learn how the shop still makes sweets the old-fashioned way from seventh-generation owner Pietro Romanengo and tour the multilevel shop in the center of Genoa’s historic district.
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In an 1881 letter to a friend, composer Giuseppe Verdi wrote that the confectioner Pietro Romanengo fu Stefano could ‘exquisitely candy any sort of fruit.’ And he was right. This tour delves into that same candied fruit Verdi wrote about and much, much more. Pietro Romanengo fu Stefano, established way back in 1780, is the oldest confectionery shop in Europe. Kings and courtiers, celebrities and superstars have all stopped in for a sweet fix. Learn how the shop still makes sweets the old-fashioned way from seventh-generation owner Pietro Romanengo and tour the multilevel shop in the center of Genoa’s historic district.
Make your way to the family-owned-and-operated Pietro Romanengo fu Stefano flagship shop to begin this sweet-tinged 1-hour tour. Pietro Romanengo or another member of the family greets tour participants and explains how the confectionery works.
All the sweets, many of which are concocted with machines and equipment dating back generations, are made right on the premises. The shop is so old that the logo contains a dove and an olive branch, which were added to symbolize peace and stability in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.
All the sweets, many of which are concocted with machines and equipment dating back generations, are made right on the premises. The shop is so old that the logo contains a dove and an olive branch, which were added to symbolize peace and stability in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.
Start the tour by exploring the first floor, which is crammed with candied fruits and nuts. Go up to other floors where chocolates, nougats and other delightful sweet snacks are made. The tour concludes with the best part: the sampling. The tour samples are based on seasonal ingredients so you never know what you’re going to get, but expect candied fruits and nuts, chocolate, nougats, dragées (hard-shelled candies, like M&Ms), fondants and bonbons.
At the conclusion of the tasting, you’re free to go — if you can resist the draw of all the candy around you.
At the conclusion of the tasting, you’re free to go — if you can resist the draw of all the candy around you.
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