A Few of our Favorite Gelato Spots

At Stellavision, when we love something, we love it exhaustively. No matter what part of the country you’re visiting, we want to equip you with local tips to find the absolute gems in any of the many categories Italians excel in. From wine to pasta, dolce and cheese, Italy‘s regional specialties are diverse and delicious. Very often these businesses are family-run, with recipes passed down through generations.

The same is true of gelato, which is roughly how you say ‘ice cream’ in Italian. (If you can say it at all… our mouths are usually full when we’re at a gelateria!) But Italian gelato is not ice cream, not exactly. The artisans who create the confection use natural ingredients, much less fat and they churn it at a slower speed. The end result is more flavorful and more dense than your typical ice cream.

This cold treat isn’t just a staple of Italian life. When the temperatures soar, it’s a summer necessity! Wherever you find yourself, you can count on being in proximity to at least a few gelaterie artiginale.

Just to get your travel-planning started, here are a few of our favorites:

1. Cremaria Santo Stefano, Bologna

Wander under Bologna’s famous arches to reach this gelateria. Often rated one of the country’s best, Cremaria Santo Stefano is a perfect introduction to a staple gelato flavor: ‘Crema’. It’s not vanilla, it’s not whipped cream, it’s a decadent, rich and creamy delicacy. Their version ‘Crema con Limone Siciliana’ (with Sicilian lemons) is our go-to order here.

Via Santo Stefano, 70/c, 40125 Bologna BO

2. Suso Gelatoteca, Venice

Close to the famed Rialto Bridge, in the maze of Venetian streets called Calli, you’ll find Suso. It’s an ideal destination to observe an Italian gelato custom: eschewing the coppetta (cup) or cono (cone) in favor of a brioche. Forget what you thought you knew about ice-cream sandwiches. Their Opera flavor is delicious.

Sotoportego de la Bissa, 5453, 30124 Venezia VE

3. Bloom, Modena

Throughout Italian gelaterie, you’ll find versions of nocciola: hazelnut. In our opinion, Bloom riffs on this classic flavor best. Don’t sleep on their inventive combos like White Chocolate with Hazelnuts or Nocciola with Sicilian Orange jam. As with many artisanal spots, they offer a number of vegan offerings and plenty of nut-free options too.

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, 42, 41121 Modena MO

4. Emilia Cremeria, Modena

Modena is the birthplace of balsamic vinegar. This culinary art-form is so important to the region that there is a LOT of government oversight if you want to be labelled as an official DOP variety (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta or Protected Designation of Origin. This certification is a guarantee that the cheese, olive oil, prosciutto etc. in question is produced, processed and packaged according to Italian tradition and within a very specific geographical region.) From different flavor profiles to durations spent aging in barrels, the variety of textures and tastes of this quintessential product is vast. So why are we waxing on about vinegar on a gelato list?

Not just our second Modena spot, Emilia Cremeria is directly across the piazza from Bloom. But we had to feature them both to provide this insider’s tip: order a very simple gelato flavor from Emilia Cremeria, we suggest Crema. Then march a few doors down to La Consorteria 1966, a balsamic vinegar shop. Instead of asking for a tasting on a spoon, have them drizzle a few drops over your gelato for a hyper-local, totally unique, wildly delicious flavor experience. You can thank us later.

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, 17, 41121 Modena MO

5. Vivoli, Florence

Steps away from the famed Santa Croce, Vivoli’s repuation is almost as notable in Florence. As the oldest gelato shop in the city, this is a fourth-generation pursuit for the Vivoli family. They are approaching their centenary! To put that in different terms, they’ve been making gelato longer than refrigeration was common practice!!!

Via Isola delle Stinche, 7r, 50122 Firenze FI

6. Gelato Dei Neri, Florence

The route walking from Via Dei Neri into Piazza della Signoria never fails to take our breath away. It is even sweeter when you’re doing it cone-in-hand. The narrow street-way opens up to the Uffizi Gallery and the Loggia dei Lanzi on your left, before the David and the Fontana del Nettuno appear on your right. Magic. Order the ‘Al Riso’ at Gelato Dei Neri; a rich, creamy rice pudding as a gelato.

Via dei Neri, 9/11R, 50122 Firenze FI

7. Gelateria Dondoli,

San Gimignano

In the tiny Tuscan town of San Gimignano, the many medieval towers are the most famous feature. But Dondoli gives them a run for their money. At this award-winning gelateria, the fruity and floral flavors were so distinctive we had to try them. Rose & Ricotta, Bilberries & Raspberry, and Rosemary & Blackberry Lavender were all on the menu.

Piazza Della Cisterna, 4, 53037 San Gimignano SI

8. Creola, Porto Ercole

Porto Ercole is a tiny harbor town in the Monte Argentario region of Tuscany. Make a left (sinistra) when you reach the harbor shoreline and you’ll discover the tiny storefront of Creola, a gelateria where the ingredients are SO fresh you can feel their texture as well as sample their taste. On a hot, summer day, the Orange, Mint and Ginger option was the zing we needed.

Lungomare Strozzi, 8, 58018 Porto Ercole GR

9. Caffè Sicilia, Noto

We need to talk about Sicilian granite. Consider it the Italian cousin of sorbet, packed with natural flavors and textures that vary from smooth to chunky, depending on what the regional preference or ingredients are. Summers in Sicily are so hot, the sweet treat is often a breakfast item! The most traditional flavors are limone (lemon) and mandorle (almond), but there is no shortage of options to sample!

Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 125, 96017 Noto SR

10. Caffè Sicilia, Noto

Yes. Caffè Sicilia is on the list twice. Chef Corrado Assenza is a master and multiple visits are required to sample his gelato, granita and pastries without inducing an insulin coma! Get a sneak peak of what’s on offer and revel in the story of how he celebrates local Sicilian ingredients by watching Netflix’s Chef’s Table: he’s featured in Season 4 of the delectable show.

Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 125, 96017 Noto SR

11. Hotel Le Calette, Cefalù

As you may have guessed, this is not a gelateria, it’s a hotel. But we had to include it on our list for a flavor combination that made us rethink what we thought we knew about citrus: lemon & coffee. As one scoop. Mind boggling.

Via Cavallaro, 12, 90015 Cefalù PA

12. Arome de Cacao, Corsano

If Italy is a boot, Puglia’s Salento Peninsula is the heel. And close to it’s southern-most tip is the tiny town of Corsano. Blink and you’ll miss it but make SURE to stop as you drive onwards to some of the region’s incredible swimming spots. You’ll find the best small-town bakery / gelateria we’ve come across.

Via Umbria, 10, 73033 Corsano LE

13. Natale, Lecce

All we have to say about this southern spot: do yourself a favor and try the ‘Mustazzolo’ (chocolate with cinnamon and almonds) and the riff on the traditional stracciatella flavor called ‘Stracciatella Thai’ (banana, pine nuts and coconut.)

Via Salvatore Trinchese, 7, 73100 Lecce LE

14. Cremeria Alla Scala, Ostuni

As a child in the 70s, owner Vincenzo managed an ice-cream parlor on the Puglian coast. He made his long-gestating gelato dreams come true when he opened his own gelateria almost twenty years ago, in the beautiful white city of Ostuni, la citta bianca. Our favorite flavor here was the sorbetto di basilico: basil!

Scalinata Monsignor, Via Tenente Nino Antelmi, 17, 72017 Ostuni BR

15. Fatamorgana, Rome

There are several Fatamorgana locations in Rome, and it’s extra sweet to see a female chef in charge of the array of flavors you won’t encounter anywhere else. Maria Agnese says she pulls her flavor combinations from “familiar, ancient, or traditional recipes from different regions of the world, but above all from my memories.” From blue cheese to chocolate & tobacco, you’ll be blown away by the possibilities.

Via dei Chiavari, 37A, 00186 Roma RM

16. Gourmandise, Rome

You’ll find this gelateria tucked into the residential neighborhood of Monteverde Vecchio, it’s a favorite amongst locals. If you’re visiting, be sure to check out the view of Rome from the Terrazza del Gianicolo and the nearby Fontana Dell'Acqua Paola; two stunning sites tourists often miss.

Via Felice Cavallotti, 36b, 00152 Roma RM