Summer Panettone

Sunday, August 9, at Bagno Silvio in Forte dei Marmi: Fiore 1827’s Summer Panettone

Eating panettone on Ferragosto may seem like an unusual custom, yet in Forte dei Marmi it has now become a true tradition. For nearly twenty years, this large yeast-leavened cake has been a staple of summer celebrations in Versilia, so much so that it has become one of the culinary symbols of Ferragosto.

The idea stemmed from an insight by Davide Paolini, the famous Gastronaut, who as early as 2006 published a controversial article in Il Sole 24 Ore, proposing that panettone be enjoyed year-round and not just during the Christmas season. “An eccentric idea of mine? A desecration of tradition? – says Paolini. That’s how my idea of launching panettone in the summer was met at the time. So, spurred on by this ‘push,’ many people went on to launch events and initiatives of varying degrees of originality”

The idea truly took off in Forte dei Marmi, during the 19th edition of the A Tavola sulla Spiaggia event, when Paolini wanted to symbolically celebrate the “Ferragosto panettone.” Since then, what began as a culinary provocation has evolved, year after year, into a much-anticipated event.

Bruno Murzi, Mayor of Forte dei Marmi; Gabriele Filippini, CEO of Fiore 1827; Eugenio Giani, President of the Tuscany Region.

Today, it’s not uncommon to see boxes of panettone in the baskets of bicycles riding through the center of this Versilian town or to find it among the desserts offered at beach club restaurants. From picnics under beach umbrellas to dinners on terraces or in gardens, summer panettone has become a permanent fixture in the routines of both residents and tourists.

Fiore 1827, the historic Sienese confectionery company that will celebrate its 200th anniversary next year, has also contributed to the spread of this tradition. The owner, Gabriele Filippini, believed in Paolini’s idea from the very beginning, organizing events and initiatives dedicated to summer panettone in recent years. “Summer panettone is the result of an idea,” reveals Gabriele Filippini himself, “which we immediately understood and embraced.”

Two years ago, Fiore 1827 had already introduced a summer version of the traditional dessert, enriched with peach and apricot, while this year, too, the panettone has taken center stage at beach events and cultural gatherings hosted at Villa Bertelli and led by Domenico Savini.