The name came in the eighteenth century from the daily visits of twelve traders from nearby Piazza delle Erbe. The ancient rooms with their frescoed ceilings, and Roman and medieval vestiges in the cellars retain all their fascination. A symbol of tradition and culture, and the venue for a prestigious literary- journalistic award set up by Orio Vergani, its guests have included D’Annunzio, Ezra Pound, Hemingway, Maria Callas, the Royal Family of Sweden, Guareschi, Fellini, Jean Gabin, and Barbra Streisand. Today "12 Apostoli" hosts the new restaurant "Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli" by chef Giancarlo Perbellini, who took over from the Gioco family, who have been running the establishment for four generations since the beginning of the 20th century.