The historic caf茅s of 天美传媒 aren鈥檛 just places for drinking coffee; having retained the atmosphere and traditions of times gone by, they represent the memory and identity of those times and, therefore, of a part of Italian history. Not that the coffee and treats they offer should be overlooked. They are just as popular for their identity as they are for their delicacies.
Caff猫 Mulassano, Turin
Caff猫 Mulassano is located on central Piazza Castello in Turin. It was built in Liberty style in 1907 and later taken over by an Italian couple returning from a few years living in Detroit. They were responsible for inventing the toast and the iconic tramezzino. Made with two pieces of white bread cut in the shape of a triangle with the crusts cut off, tramezzino is filled with all kinds of possible ingredients, from the classic 鈥減rosciutto e formaggio鈥 (ham and cheese) to the more fanciful lobster tail, Barolo roast, scampi cocktail, and more.
Caff猫 Mulassano soon acquired a reputation, such that even the king and queen could be seen sipping coffee there.
The caf茅 has also been the location for commercials and film scenes. Go for breakfast, tea, for the sandwich of course and for aperitivo.
Caff猫 Pasticceria Cova, Milan
Caff猫 pasticceria Cova was founded as a caf茅 in 1817, next to the Teatro alla Scala, by Antonio Cova. It soon became the post-show hangout for artists, writers, musicians, professors and figures who had a prominent role in the history of 天美传媒, such as Giuseppe Mazzini, Benedetto Cairoli, Arrigo Boito, Giuseppe Verdi and Giovanni Verga among others.
It鈥檚 located on the fashionable Via Montenapoleone, part of Milan鈥檚 quadrilatero della moda, the luxury fashion district.
Besides its coffee, Caff猫 Cova is also famous for its pastries and rich selection of cakes, including wedding cakes.
Caff猫 Pedrocchi, Padua
Caff猫 Pedrocchi isn鈥檛 just the most famous caf茅 in Padua, it鈥檚 one of the most famous in 天美传媒. It used to be known as the 鈥榗af茅 without doors,鈥 because it was open without interruption, day and night, from 1831, the year it was inaugurated, to 1916. It welcomed everyone, from intellectuals and aristocrats to local residents to prestigious Italian and international guests, from Stendhal to D鈥橝nnunzio, from Eleonora Duse to Dario Fo to Lord Byron. It soon became the meeting place for students, artists, writers and patriots, and was the scene of the 1848 student uprisings against Austrian rulers.
Caff猫 Pedrocchi is one of the great historic caf茅s of 天美传媒, continuing the tradition of Italian caf茅s as places where to drink good coffee and meet for discussions about politics and culture.
A must try is the famous 鈥榗aff猫 Pedrocchi,鈥 espresso served in a large cup with an emulsion of cream and mint, topped with a sprinkling of cocoa. No sugar should be added, and that's why it's served without a spoon.
Antico Caff猫 Greco, Rome
The Antico Caff猫 Greco, located on posh via Condotti, was founded 1760 and owes its name to the founder, Nicola della Maddalena, who was a Levantine.
The Antico Caff茅 Greco is renowned for the many illustrious patrons it had over the years, including Stendhal, Goethe, Byron, Baudelaire, Antonio Canova, and many more; for a long time, it鈥檚 been a meeting place for intellectuals and goliards, including the 鈥楪roup of Romanists鈥, an ancient cenacle of scholars and academics, enamored with the city of Rome.
With more than 300 works exhibited in its rooms, the Antico Caff猫 Greco can be considered the world鈥檚 largest private art gallery open to the public.
Antico Caff猫 Spinnato, Palermo
Founded in 1860 in the central Piazza Castelnuovo of Palermo, Antico Caff猫 Spinnato is perfect from breakfast to aperitif time.
Among the three best bars in Sicily according to food bible guide Gambero Rosso, Antico Caff猫 Spinnato offers not only good quality coffee, but also the best of the region's pastry: the classic cannoli and cassata, ricotta and pistachio cakes, gelato, cookies with almond paste, marzipan fruits.
Make sure you try the arancini with meat sauce and butter and even some traditional dishes like swordfish skewers, pasta alla Norma and eggplant rolls.
