One of the best things about being on holiday is getting to indulge in delicious treats and try incredible local delights. With this in mind, we have been thinking and dreaming of our favourite Italian chocolate here at Italy Villas and decided to compile a list of the best brands and places where you can get some sweet treats if you book a villa in Italy and are truly diving into all aspects of her rich and flavourful culinary scene.
All jokes aside, Italy really does offer some of the tastiest chocolate in the world, in various forms, to sample so be sure to visit these gems once you have found your perfect vacation rental in Italy with us...
1. Ferrero – A Serious Chocolate Staple
One of the most famous Italian chocolate brands worldwide, this beloved fixture is an obvious choice with familiar favourites (such as Ferrero Rocher, Kinder treats of various kinds, and Nutella) as well as perhaps more obscure treats on offer. While there are 25 factories now located all around the globe, the original is in Alba in Piedmont. Unfortunately, tours have never been allowed and the outlet store is only open to employees. However, you won’t have to go far to get your hands on delicious examples of the brand. Supermarkets all over Italy will have a great selection for you to browse and, if you do book a holiday rental in Piedmont, you’re sure to find that stores in and around Alba are likely to have especially varied options to choose between. So, keep your eyes peeled!
2. Turin’s Chocolatey Coffee – Bicerin
Staying in Piedmont, if you head to the stunning and elegant city of Turin for a day and are darting around to explore all that she has to offer, be sure to try a Bicerin when you stop to take a break! Available all over the city, it is best sampled in the famous Caffè al Bicerin where it is likely to have been invented in the 18th century, this drink is composed of espresso, hot chocolate, and milk that is served layered in a small glass. A perfect pick-me-up to give you more energy to see the city, it is a delightful local treat steeped in history and rich in chocolatey flavour.
3. Gianduiotto – Chocolates good enough for a modern princess!
Caffarel’s famous Gianduiotto chocolates are another staple and were given yet another seal of approval when Grace Kelly made them her wedding favours. When you’re already sampling all of Piedmont’s chocolate treats and if you have been exploring Turin, then you should definitely check them out for their incredibly high-quality products in beautiful packaging. The Gianduiotto chocolates are always a good shout but the whole line of Caffarel products is worth sampling, including the likes of the barchette, which pair perfectly with Piedmont’s famous Barolo wine – sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening by the pool at one of our villas with swimming pools in Piedmont to us!
4. Discover Tuscany’s Famous Chocolate Valley
Those who book a villa in Tuscany, meanwhile, will have endless choice when it comes to chocolate ahead of them! We have covered this part of the region more extensively over on the Tuscany Villas blog but the so-called, “Chocolate Valley,” of Tuscany is located between Pisa, Pistoia and Prato, and is home to chocolate producers, artisan chocolatiers, factories, shops, and gourmet boutiques including Roberto Catinari’s famous shop in Agliana with its selection of over 100 pralines to choose from and the headquarters of Amedei, a luxury chocolate brand that has become a staple of speciality food stores all over the world.
5. Naples’ Historic Chocolates
If you happen to be much further south, in a gorgeous holiday rental in Campania, and feel your sweet tooth crying out for something nice to eat, then head into historic Naples to seek out one of her most beloved and storied brands, Gay-Odin. Established in the 19th century, this stunning chocolate brand is synonymous with quality and luxury and was favoured by aristocrats, artists, and writers who have lived in or come to the city throughout time, including Oscar Wilde. With gorgeous packaging that features painted scenes of Naples, they also make for stunning souvenirs and as there are locations all over the city, it should be easy to get your hands on them. If you are around during the summer, you can also sample their famous flavours and chocolates (including the likes of their Mount Vesuvius filled chocolate) in gelato form – the most perfectly indulgent way to cool down as you wander the city!
6. Perugina – Umbria’s Famous Chocolate Brand
Another name that requires little by way of introduction, Perugina is a staple of Italian sweet treats with their incredibly famous Baci (“kisses”) found sold by the box in stores and singularly in little jars by the till in coffee shops the world over. Book a villa in Umbria and head to Perugia and you can tour their chocolate factory on the edge of town, join chocolate-making classes, visit their museum, and – of course – buy some wonderful chocolate from their gift shop. Or, if you’re simply spending time in the city itself, you’ll find plenty of Perugina stores all around the place, making it almost too easy to stock up... Plus, if you happen to be visiting in November, you could also attend Eurochocolate, the city’s annual chocolate festival and the largest international chocolate festival in the world – a once-in-a-lifetime must for the more serious chocolate-lovers out there!
7. Modica – A Chance To Try Aztec Chocolate In Italy!
Head to gorgeous and varied Sicily and you’ll find the intriguing town of Modica, where you can sample Aztec chocolate. Considered a UNESCO World Heritage site along with several other neighbouring towns for the astounding Baroque architectural gems in its historic centre, this is already a fascinating place to visit but it is made all the more enticing by its local PAT (or Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale) chocolate. Characterised by its grainy texture and a recipe which is an adapted version of one brought back by Spaniards from the Aztecs, it is closer to the original than most chocolate that you will find elsewhere. Dark black in colour, with hints of brown, crumbly, with coarse granules of sugar, and a roasted cocoa scent, this chocolate is traditionally flavoured with cinnamon or vanilla but other flavours, including chilli, coffee, citrus, anise, carob, mint, almonds, pistachio, and ginger can also be found. For the serious foodie interested in the history of chocolate or someone interested in trying something new, it is an absolute must if you have booked a vacation rental in Sicily!
So, what are you waiting for? If you are a chocolate-lover, then Italy is the perfect place for your next vacation.