Caffè Fantoni

The famous Villafranca café was founded in 1842 by Giovanni Fantoni, who was also the creator of the legendary sfogliatine, which became a renowned classic of the establishment.

Giovanni was succeeded by his grandson, Cav. Marcello Fantoni, who had inherited the pastry art from his grandfather when the city of Quadrato was still Austrian. Marcello, with his great imagination, managed to filter history through the sweet sins of gluttony during those years. In fact, while the Risorgimento revolved around Villafranca, Fantoni was baking the "Cake of Peace" and the "Umberto Cookies" in honor of the prince who fought at Quadrato.

For d'Annunzio and his legionaries, he distilled "The Water of Fiume", clear and light like that which descends from the Carso to relieve the fervor of the Holocaust city, as the poet himself wrote to Cav. Marcello in 1921. Subsequently, the refined and increasingly renowned Caffè di Villafranca began to look at the world, and from its fragrant workshop came forth: "Libya Cookies," "Jolanda Focaccia," the mandarin elixir "Mikan-shu," and the bitter "Cochinchin."

The fame of the café grew increasingly; in fact, as its walls became adorned with diplomas and coveted patents from the Royal House, more and more illustrious guests frequented its marble tables.

- Renato Simoni, in the light of Freud's theory, humorously analyzed the soul of the excellent sfogliatine;

- Berto Barbarani, who often visited Fantoni, indulged in grandiose banquets of seven courses with his friend, the painter Angelo Dall'Oca Bianca, amid rhymes;

- The philosopher Giuseppe Rensi, in addition, between a sweet and a liqueur, wrote in the café "The Irrational, Work, and Love";

- The illustrious economist Angelo Messedaglia often joked about Fantoni’s accounts during his very frequent visits that brought him back to the café beneath the house where he was born.

- To the journalist Arnaldo Vassallo, known as "Gandolin," a faithful patron of the café, Cav. Marcello dedicated a cake, and in 1908, he received yet another praise from friend Fogazzaro, written for the goodness of the pastries.

His specialties also attracted the curiosity of the torero Estrela, who, coming to perform in a bullfight at the Verona Arena in 1923, was enchanted by the sweet Water of Fiume.

Finally, among the various sources of inspiration from daily life at the time, Fantoni drew from opera in the creation of his special products. Thus, when Puccini wrote Tosca, he created the "Sweet Kisses," Mascagni composed Iris, and Fantoni distilled the homonymous tonic-digestive.

As we have seen, the fame and prestige of Caffè Fantoni were immense; especially in the early decades of the last century, not only for the quality of its products but also for the wit of those who created them, often poking fun at or supporting the historical events of the time. The current owners of the café, great-grandchildren of Marcello Fantoni, are restoring the establishment to its former splendor, with the advice of Arch. Giorgio Forti and the power of prestigious memories carefully preserved.

 

(source: caffefantoni1842.com)