gelateria dondoli florence

Butternut, Book ticket. My tour guide recommended a stop in the quaint medieval town of San Gimignano, near Siena, to try some of “The World’s Best Gelato” at Gelateria Dondoli.. Gelateria Dondoli is hard to miss with it’s merits and awards on the doors Sergio's first leather jacket was created by Giorgio Armani and it was reddish brown in colour, known exactly as Oxblood. Grand Marnier is one of the best known liqueurs in the world. Sergio Dondoli has a wonderful taste and fantasy. Sergio won in 2016 the prestigious MAM (Maestro d’Arte e Mestiere) prize, the same prize called “Living National Treasure” in Japan and “Maître d’Art” in France. Gelateria Dondoli: Excellent ice cream - See 7,559 traveler reviews, 2,108 candid photos, and great deals for San Gimignano, Italy, at Tripadvisor. While not in Florence, no mention of gelato is complete without noting nearby Gelateria Dondoli. The fruit flavors here fell apart both in the texture and flavor department, with the flavors being somewhat light (an opposite problem of the black sesame). I could see the above thoughts for this shop being mostly based on the luck of the draw with our flavor choices, but I think the relatively mild fruit flavors with average texture turned me off for the higher-than-average price point. Okay, fine, there is one more gelato shop I have to talk about, and this one is an honorable mention because it is not in Florence proper. Gelateria Dondoli S.r.l. The pineapple jumped out at us for having rather robust flavors despite only a somewhat creamy texture. Gelateria Artigianale Da Angelo is located at Borgo S Jacopo 25/R, on the first crossroad southwest of the Ponte Vecchio. Yes, you read that right, four times. +39 0577 942244 In general, our criteria for evaluating Italian gelato is simple- it is a balance of texture and flavor. Also, Dandoli has been making homemade gelato with the freshest ingredients for generations and is the favourite… As such, we tend to stay away from these places altogether. This shop has all the traditional options you can think of, but also features some rather absurd creations you can only find here. I've been sharing travel, blogging, and lifestyle advice on Living the Dream (along with my wife, Angie) for over 12 years! In this ice cream the marbled goat's milk cheese (Blu di Pecora) is combined with Sorrento walnuts for a flavour at the service of typical local products. But getting beyond this, Gelatai Toscani also has a unique pricing structure that varies by individual flavor- making some of their options quite approachable for just a couple of Euros. 1,387 reviews .06 miles away . Why? The colour of this flavour recalls the colour of that jacket. Gelatai Toscani is located at Lungarno Corsini 16r along the first crossroad north of the Ponte Santa Trinita (west side before Ponte Alla Carraia). Gelateria Dondoli. If all the gelato is piled high, no one is going in there to eat it! While we love gelato just about everywhere, the gelato in Florence was what we kept going back to time and time again. Praliné almonds and hazelnuts. Gelateria Dondoli: Best ICE CREAM in the galaxy - See 7,560 traveler reviews, 2,108 candid photos, and great deals for San Gimignano, Italy, at Tripadvisor. Miriam Porter. Sergio uses organic Valrhona chocolate: acaoba 60% - Dominican Republic, ANDOA NOIRE 70% - Peru, ANDOA LACTEE 39% - Peru, WAINA 35%. This ice cream is dedicated to Sergio's sport love, his favourite football team: ACF Fiorentina. Be sure to allow yourself ~10 minutes here as the lines can get quite long as more tour groups come in. Just 75 Masters received this prize in Italy and Sergio is the only gelato maker who obtained this very important award. We stuck to fruity flavors here and found the texture to be leaving a lot to be desired and the fruit flavor to also be somewhat mild- misses on both of the things we look for. It takes its name from a noble Florentine family who loved the good food, it is important for consistency and content. Sergio uses only italian almonds. Worth every bite. The line does move fast and the wait is definitely worth it. Fico Secco di Carmignano is a typical Tuscan product of Carmignano and Poggio a Caiano (Prato He mixes lavanda and blueberry, rosmarin and raspberry, saffron and cedar nuts in his ice cream masterpieces. To be honest, I would put Gelateria Dondoli almost as an equal to Gelateria dei Neri for the same reasons. While all of the shops, for the most part, meet the above criteria to get us in the door, they still range in quality from there. Florence: 1.5 hour Segway Tour by Night from 73 USD. Gelateria Dondoli. A rich egg cream flavored with bitter orange zest, stemma casata De' Pazzi a touch of Grand Marnier, dark chocolate shavings cover 56% and almond praliné, giving complete and crunchy taste. Last week I went to see Sergio Dondoli in San Gimignano and got his fascinating life story. Defined by "Gambero Rosso" food and wine magazine as 2006 best ice cream, this marvellous pink grapefruit and Vernaccia sparkling wine sorbet called Champelmo represents a perfect balance of flavours and is a genuine refreshing drink. Perche No. This legendary sorbet created by Sergio in 1992 is always present in the display cabinet. I had many scoops of gelato at Gelateria di Piazza in San Gimignano. The reason for this is because their gelato is about as perfect as they come. Well, Gelateria Dondoli is famous for winning the title of Best in the World multiple times over, and visitors flock to this small city almost purposefully to get their gelato. Festival del Gelato is located at is located at Via del Corso 75/red just off a main walking street. Located in the central Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano, Gelateria Dondoli is known all over the world and visited by a large number of celebrities. Piazza della Cisterna, 4 - 53037 SAN GIMIGNANO. Sergio uses organic Valrhona chocolate: acaoba 60% - Dominican Republic, ANDOA NOIRE 70% - Peru, ANDOA LACTEE 39% - Peru, WAINA 35%. territory) where it is produced following the traditional methods of drying. See availability. During my recent trip to Florence, I took a day trip to Chianti to go wine tasting. If you pass by Modena, there are so many great ones I could recommend. The gelateria across them claims that they have the “the world’s best gelato”, but Dandoli had won the title back to back since 2006. You have tempted me! Check them out on a Tuscany tour with Walks of Italy! Is there anything better than Italian gelato? I've been sharing travel, blogging, and lifestyle advice on Living the Dream (along with my wife, Angie) for 12 years! Work with us to be featured on our site! It is a very small Piazza and where you can find the award winning gelato shop, Gelateria Dondoli. This one is located just south of the Ponte Santa Trinita (one bridge west of the Ponte Vecchio) and offers a rather robust flavor selection with some unusual options like black sesame in addition to more common fruit/chocolate/nut flavors. Be sure to allow yourself ~10 minutes here as the lines can get quite long as more tour groups come in. My only regret was that I got to this one just once, so my flavor profile knowledge is much more limited than compared to the remainder of places on this list. Hey there! For us, ice is the killer of most Italian gelatos, and mild flavors are the next worse sin. A San Gimignano, nel cuore della Toscana, proprio dove iniziò la storia moderna del Gelato, troverai un’occasione unica per conoscere meglio il Gelato, la sua storia e tutte le curiosità con la passione che solo un … Grand Marnier is perfect to enhance the delicate taste of the cream. Just 75 Masters received this prize in Italy and Sergio is the only gelato maker who obtained this very important award. This ice cream is for all the Fiorentina fans of the mythical "Curva Fiesole" at the Florence A. Franchi stadium. Good, not great, and definitely not close to our favorite in Florence. While the scoops here are on the small side, they made for a rather surprising visit all around (seriously, go get the peanut). In the past it was eaten not only as a sweet but also for breakfast or dinner. Sergio, the master gelato chef, proudly claims to have the best gelato in the world. Allow me to introduce you to Gelateria Dondoli, which is located smack in the middle of San Gimignano’s historic piazza. It is really close to the Duomo (literally a few steps away). Saffron Cantuccini, Avola almonds, honey, bitter orange peel. About the Author: Angie is a contributing author. So, with that in mind, let's talk about some of the shops. For gelato in Florence (and, really, all over Italy), there is a trend for shops to stack their gelato as high as possible, style them to look pretty, and use that to entice you into the shop. So, naturally, on my most recent trip to Florence I had to get out and find some of the city's best. This mix gives the purple colour that recalls the Fiorentina shirt. The first of a long series of fruit ice creams flavoured with spices that have become famous. San Gimignano is a delightful medieval village with so much to explore. All things being equal, we would return to this one for the vibrant fruit flavors and the incredibly friendly staff alone. We want a creamy texture, and strong, bold flavors. 7,559 reviews .01 miles away . The patron claims to be a double world gelato champion. This teeny-tiny gelato shop is located in the central Piazza della Cisterna of San Gimignano. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have always dreamed of making your own gelato, Sergio is now offering gelato workshops, just down the street from the shop. Torre e Casa Campatelli. The gelato … Easily one of the most popular day trips from Florence, San Gimignano is known for its soaring towers, beautiful views, prime location in Tuscany (once upon a time, it sat along a Roman trading route, enriching the town), and its delicious gelato–popular Gelateria Dondoli is known as some of the best gelato in all of Italy! The flavor list is vast. Sergio uses organic Valrhona chocolate: acaoba 60% - Dominican Republic, ANDOA NOIRE 70% - Peru, ANDOA LACTEE 39% - Peru, WAINA 35%. While I would say that the black sesame was a unique flavor to try, I made a mistake in getting a full scoop as its flavor was almost too strong for a savory ice cream. An ice cream truly worth sampling. Shops in this article are organized by least favorite to most favorite, so as you get further and further down the list you'll find spots we like more. San Gimignano Bell Tower. Their flavors went far beyond the typical that you see. Owner Sergio Dondoli sent a tray of his emerald green pistachio blend to a vacationing Tony Blair in 1998, a few days before the signing of … Discovered this charming little place, packed with character by accident - the day after visiting the famous ice cream place - Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano - and I was truly impressed. Yummmmm! A great flavor made of a great liqueur. Disclaimers: Our site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. How about Italian garden (featuring herbs and tomato)? Gelateria Artigianale Da Angelo was one of the few gelato shops that we found at random. Gelateria Dondoli. Coordinates 43°28'2.377" N 11°2'35.992" E. Tours and activities: Gelateria Dondoli. Sergio likes to use it with white chocolate. While nothing jumps out at me as being stellar from this particular gelato shop, I would say that it rings true as being a solid shop in flavor options, flavor/texture, and price. An ice cream based on pure sheep's milk ricotta flavoured with bilberries. Instant confirmation. Are you looking to promote your business or destination? Gelato World Championship Masters from all over the world Sergio Dondoli is a member of the Team and Organisation of the Italian National Ice Cream Makers who won the Ice Cream World Championship in 2006/07 - 2008/09. They have numerous flavors that you can sample from as well. We tried pistachio and chocolate gelato and loved it! I think my favorite is still SLURP close to the center. For being located right in the heart of central Florence, this one stands out as being just a bit better than its nearby competitors- that we sampled at least. Instant confirmation. His creamy Zabaione is enriched with a Vinsanto of San Gimignano, that has been aged for 10 years.An exclusive specialty of Gelateria di Piazza is it’s research and promotion of local products, in this case, the famous Vin Santo. milk chocolate. He uses the pure organic biological caw milk and only fresh and natural ingredients. It can be found on Via dei Banchi 9-11, Florence, Italy and the gelato is superb. Like any good meal, you need to wait until the end for your dessert, which is why I’ve been saving one of the best things to do in San Gimignano until now. That being said, decent reviews got us into the doors of this one, and we left with the same thought- its decent. Of course, I’m talking about the famous Gelateria Dondoli. Made from the infusion of aromatic herbs, this light spiced vanilla cream is enriched by an orange chocolate sauce and an equally delicious espresso coffee sauce. Since founding Living the Dream I have visited 74 countries on five continents, spoken at several conferences, and Angie and I were named one of USA Today's 10Best travel couples. Delivery & Pickup Options - 153 reviews of Gelateria Dondoli "To be clear, we took our comparative analysis of Tuscan gelateria very seriously. Arguably some of the best ice cream in the world, we found ourselves addicted to it when traveling throughout the country (so much so that we ate it 2-3 times per day depending on the day). Just remember when travelling to both cities: the beauty and essence of simplicity and calmness can rejuvenate you. Gelateria Santa Trinita is perhaps on the higher-end of gelato shops in Florence, both in terms of aesthetic and price. Gelateria dei Neri is located at Via dei Neri, 9 just a couple of blocks north of the Ponte alle Grazie. Perche No. I would give Gelateria Dondoli the edge, if only slightly, due to its flavor list. On our way back to Florence, we stopped at Fattoria Montecchio for a wine and olive oil tasting. And there is no doubt that this place tops the list. Publish by Rough Guides. Historic Centre of San Gimignano. Pralinè is an hazelnuts paste used mainly to give taste to creams, gelato etc. Made with the best vintage Vernaccia wines of the San Gimignano area, it is part of Sergio's path to enhance typical local products in an artisan manner. Florence: Markets and Food Tasting Tour. Extract; ... No Credit cards. Cheese and black olives. Mobile voucher. The tiny shop is adorable and packed with character, and the service by the charismatic, polite and smart shopkeeper made the experience all the better. A Grand, Multi-Day Wedding with an Intimate Guest List in Florence ... saffron-flavored gelato from Gelateria Dondoli, and a climb up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Gelateria Dondoli. I say close, as there are other worse offenders in Florence, except this one is over-the-top on the neon. Gelateria Santa Trinita is located at Piazza Dei Frescobaldi on the south side of the Ponte Santa Trinita. Or favorite gelateria in Florence proper, without a doubt, is Gelateria dei Neri. Gelateria Dondoli is located at Piazza della Cisterna, 4 in San Gimignano, Italy- about an hour outside of Florence. I repeat, Gelateria Dondoli. It was our favorite when we visited in 2013, and it was the favorite of my entire family during our visit again six years later. And the texture, well, the texture of this gelato shop has no equal in the city limits. From there, our concerns are a bit more relaxed. This gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage site in … The name of this ice cream (Oxblood) springs from a youthful memory. This is the hallmark of bad gelato to us. Don’t be fooled by the guy down on the corner saying he has the best gelato in the world!! This one had a lot of unusual flavors with a seeming focus on Asian and/or tropical fruits. A cream flavoured with BOURBON vanilla pods (Madagascar), San Gimignano SAFFRON pistils and Pisa PINE NUTS. Restaurants near Gelateria Dondoli, San Gimignano on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano, Province of Siena. That being said, we are also of the mindset that sub-par gelato in Florence is often better than most ice cream anywhere else, so you can likely hit all of these and still find something for you. Best nearby attractions See all. Gelateria Sergio Dondoli. And this ice cream you can try only in San Gimignano - he doesn`t have other shops in Italy. My fave was the grapefruit wine, but I missed the pear. Couple that with decent reviews, gelato stored in steel canisters, and that great proximity and you know we had to stop. Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano Once you’ve finished exploring the city of San Gimignano, take the 130 and 131 bus back to Florence. from 73 USD. During my last visit here I opted for some of the more savory flavors such as chocolate and pistachio, and was pleased with the overall creamy texture and strong flavors. We prefer visiting shops that place their gelato in canisters with lids (pictured above), if only to help with Angie's food allergy, but we do not discern between the two storage styles other than in this one small factor. Comment below to share! This one is located just steps from the Ponte Vecchio and was located just across the street from our Airbnb. Why do I mention this one? … • Seasonal specialty: Sergio proposes this flavour only when the ingredients reach the right degree of seasoning. La Carraia is located at Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25/r, just on the south side of the Ponte alla Carraia. or for filled chocolates. This one hits a number of things we look for in great gelato and has superb texture, an array of unique flavor choices (go for the amaretto or the fruited cheesecake- the latter had generous gobs of fruit syrup mixed in), and even good portion sizes for the price. Time Out - Florence & Tuscany. The high quality of this aromatic cocoa with its incredible taste will lead you in a sensorial experience. From the aromatised fruit series, here we have sweet and intense, ripe midsummer blackberry pulp blended with the delicate yet decided aroma of lavender.Sergio loves experimenting new flavors combitions withot forgetting the importance of artisanal tradition. Or La Muccheria close to the park. +39 0577 942244 But what really dropped this one down for us was the dark chocolate which was the most bitter of any we had in Florence. Wow, I simply can’t resist gelato! • Seasonal specialty: Sergio proposes this flavour only when the fruit reaches the right degree of ripeness. ! Sergio runs the most successful gelateria in Tuscany, in San Gimignano, the third most visited Tuscan village after Florence and Siena. • Seasonal specialty: Sergio proposes this flavour only when the fruit reaches the right degree of ripeness. A dark chocolate with cherry jam and chilli pepper. © 2021 World of Discovery Media LLC. 6,346 reviews .05 miles away . Check them out on a Tuscany tour with Walks of Italy ! È possibile ricevere il gelato anche domani nel giorno della festa del #25aprile, ma occorre ordinarlo oggi ️ ☎️ +39 393 544 8969 e +39 348 891 2544 Ordini dalle 10.00 alle 20.00 Consegna dalle 14.30 alle 19.30 Beyond this, our selection criteria for visiting shops is a mix of looking at other reviews, walking by and seeing crowds, and also the storage medium itself. Gelateria Dondoli S.r.l. Amedei has always been a synonym of top quality and has won the Oscar for the best chocolate in the world for as many as 4 years running (from 2005 to 2009). Rosemary Baby Gelato under the Tuscan sun. Piazza della Cisterna, 4. And I can see why. Chestnuts, rosemary, pine nuts. These were some of the flavors we fell in love with at Gelateria Dondoli, and it should be no surprise that I ended up eating eight scoops in my scant 60 minutes here. Florence Pasticceria Rinaldini. His ice cream parlour is mentioned in the most important world guides and is continuously visited by national and international televisions. All Rights Reserved. Dondoli Sergio è all’opera già da diverse ore per la preparazione del #gelato artigianale da portare sulle vostre tavole! ... not to be confused with similarly named neighbours. Gelateria Dondoli is located at Piazza della Cisterna, 4 in San Gimignano, Italy- about an hour outside of Florence. We made sure that samples were take frequently at all locations visited. Please check out our Terms and Conditions for more information. Gelateria Dondoli is located in San Gamignano, a Tuscan village located about an hour away from old town Florence. White chocolate, pumpkin seed oil, cookies. Last Updated on September 14, 2020 by Jeremy. According to Gelateria Dondoli's website, all flavors of their fruit sorbetto are gluten and dairy free. Join our community of 65,000+ on social media to never miss an update! Both are great!! Traveling around Europe by train? This shop not only offers unique flavors, like cream or peanut, but also delivers with a wonderful creamy texture to boot. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this gelateria multiple times now, thanks to the ever-fantastic Tuscany in One Day tour by Walkabout Florence. Chocolate gelato based on Amedei "Chuao" cocoa. Dondoli Gelato Class è un’esperienza aperta a tutti, grandi e piccini. San Gimignano . Book your ticket with Omio to get your trip locked in today!Omio is one of the leading train booking services out there and can get your tickets booked fast, cheap, and get you out exploring right away! Festival del Gelato is about as close to violating our rule of “what not to look for in an Italian gelato shop”- namely, an absurd number of flavors, neon everywhere, big mounds, and a strong focus on the aesthetic to entice you into the door. Since some years it has been recognized as Presidio Slow Food. As someone who is only mildly into chocolate, even when it is world-class, that is really saying something. Sergio chose saffron for this recipe as it's a typical San Gimignano's product and honey for its sweetness that reminds him Michelle Obama's refined sweetness. Gelatai Toscani is another place that we stumbled upon by accident and visited for the same reasons as the above shop- great reviews, unique flavors, and storage in covered vessels. What is your favorite gelato in Florence? 244 reviews .06 miles away . Just 75 Masters received this prize in Italy and Sergio is the only gelato maker who obtained this very important award. Gelateria Dondoli, was very crowded and the line was out the door! Listed prices and attraction details may have changed since our visit and initial publication. All topped with hazelnut grains and coated almonds. In fact, during our five days in Florence (two of which weren't even in the city), I visited this one four times. ... Italy. This ice cream blends the intense, fragrant flavour of the raspberry with the aromatic freshness of rosemary, which goes very well in the warmest moments of the season. is one of those places we remembered as a favorite from our visit in 2013, and six years later their quality still held up. While these tend to be better than average, it is not a set rule with regards to quality. If we had been in San Gimignano in the evening, we would have had dinner at Le Vecchie Mura, which is AIC certified. Just 75 Masters received this prize in Italy and Sergio is the only gelato maker who obtained this very important award. "Remember guys, the world's best gelato is at Gelateria Dondoli. She has been to nearly 60 countries and seeks out the best restaurants, bars, bakeries, and other unique food items wherever she goes- often with her husband, Jeremy. Rinaldini is an award winning pastry chef’s dessert shop, where alongside gelato, you can have coffees, cakes and pastries. • Seasonal specialty: Sergio proposes this flavour only when the fruit reaches the right degree of ripeness. Claims it serves the world's best gelato - and they are very good. Saffron anyone? Gelateria Dondoli, San Gimignano: See 7,560 unbiased reviews of Gelateria Dondoli, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #14 of 119 restaurants in San Gimignano. is located at Via dei Tavolini 19r, just steps from the main walking street and one block from Festival del Gelato. Sergio's story The Dondoli family lived in northern Germany for years (as a result of the ma Or maybe grapefruit with Prosseco? All things being equal, the limoncello had a pretty strong lemon flavor and would be my preferred choice here if you visit. +39 0577 942244 Piazza della Cisterna, 4 - 53037 SAN GIMIGNANO I'm Jeremy, a full-time travel blogger living in Pittsburgh that escaped the 9-5 grind to live a life of travel. Castagnaccio is a very simple cake of peasant origin. Florence: 1.5 hour Segway Tour by Night. Their texture and flavor intensities put them in a league of their own. With La Carraia we start getting towards what we consider to be best of the best in this list, and to visit this one you'll need to walk to the south side of the Ponte alla Carraia. A specialty that has its roots in Tuscan territory. The flavors themselves are intense (in both the chocolate/nut and fruit styles). Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on those shops! In fact, I got the dark chocolate three out of the four times we visited as well (and regretted not doing so the fourth and final time). The creaminess of this gelato cannot be described in words, and in some flavors (like the dark chocolate- my absolute favorite as it is well balanced with bitterness and sweetness), you may have a few moments where you forget you're eating ice cream. We did so in 2013, and again on our Tuscany day tour six years later (and that is to not take away from San Gimignano either, it has a stunning old town). Gelateria Dondoli. You will find it hard to resist the temptation of tasting the SANTA FINA CREAM.