The association

A free approach to creating culture

About Us

Locali Storici d’Italia is a nonprofit cultural association whose mission is to promote and preserve, through appropriate cultural, tourism, and publishing initiatives, the oldest and most prestigious establishments—hotels, restaurants, trattorias, confectioneries, pastry shops, grappa bars, literary cafés—that are at least seventy years old and have played a leading role in or shaped chapters of Italian history through the events that took place there and the notable figures who frequented them. Today, the association has approximately 200 members.

The Association is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture

The Association’s efforts are focused on preserving and protecting Italy’s Locali Storici, in an effort to prevent their activities and memories from being erased, as happened in the past with the legendary Caffè Aragno in Rome and the Caffè Doney in Florence.

At the same time, efforts are underway to continuously promote cultural tourism in Italy, so that these venues—which can truly be called “museums of hospitality” due to the artifacts, furnishings, and memories they preserve—may increasingly become a deliberate destination for a new and more comprehensive way of understanding and experiencing our country’s historical heritage and traditions.

The Association was effectively founded in 1961 and was officially established in 1976 by journalist Enrico Guagnini and Angelo Pozzi, who was then the owner of Ristorante Savini in Milan.

Requirements for Admission to the “Locali Storici d’Italia”

At least 70 years of operation

Key Figures in Italian History: facts, people, events, and written accounts

Original style, spaces, and furnishings

At least 70 years of operation

Key Figures in Italian History: facts, people, events, and written accounts

Original style, spaces, and furnishings

Of the approximately 200 oldest and most prestigious establishments in our country that are members of the Association, about one-third are hotels, one-third are restaurants and historic trattorias, and one-third are cafés, confectioneries, and grappa bars scattered throughout the country. Among these are also the “Corresponding Members”—historic establishments located abroad that are highly prestigious and steeped in Italian tradition, whether in terms of their founding, management, or linguistic heritage.

The admission of a new establishment—which may apply directly to join the historic venues or be nominated by members, the press, or even customers—is decided by the Board of Directors, which verifies, through site visits and historical records, that the requirements set forth in the bylaws are met (at least 70 years of operation; a role in Italian history through historical facts, figures, events, and written accounts; original style, spaces, and furnishings).

The Association is self-funded by its members and, for its initiatives promoting cultural tourism, is supported by prestigious, long-established Italian companies such as Birra Forst, illycaffè, Acqua Minerale S.Benedetto, and Select (Montenegro Group).

200

affiliated venues

150

local average age

45

editions of the guide

Board of Directors

President

Enrico Magenes

Pasticceria Vigoni – Pavia

Vice President

Daniela Vedaldi

Founding Member

Secretary-General

Vanna Chessa

Caffè Mulassano – Torino

Treasurer

Federica Suban

Antica Trattoria Suban

Board Members

Gaetano Finocchiaro

Fabbrica Finocchiaro – Giarre CT

Andrea Fustinoni

Grand Hotel Miramare – Santa Margherita Ligure GE

Alberto Landi

Caffè Al Bicerin – Torino

Nicola Piegaja

Royal Victoria Hotel – Pisa

Carla Rey

Gran Caffè Lavena – Venezia

Marco Sarlo

Grand Hotel Royal Sanremo – Imperia

Antonio Sergio

Gran Caffè Gambrinus – Napoli

Permanent guests on the board of directors

Claudio Nobbio

Past member – Venezia

Pietro Romanengo

Confetteria Romanengo – Genova

Soci onorari

Jean-Marc Droulers

Riccardo Bartolozzi

Vetreria Etrusca – Montelupo Fiorentino FI

Counselling

Antonio Mansi

Legal Aspects

Elvio Guagnini

Italian Literature

Giacomo Lodetti

Historic Bookstores

Legal Advisors

Avv. Nicoletta Pagni

Milan

Avv. Marco Biscuola

Milan

Founding Members

Enrico Guagnini, Angelo Pozzi, Giuseppe Nardini, Luigi Gallia, Daniela Vedaldi, Gianni Malagoli, Alfredo Aielli, Claudio Guagnini

All members of the Association of Locali Storici d'Italia

Pasticceria Confetteria Abrate (1866), Torino – Hotel Adria (1855), Merano (BZ) – Palazzo Marcello Hotel Al Sole (1931), Venezia – Hotel Ala (1940), Venezia – Hotel Ristorante Albergo Italia (1933), Saint Rhemy En Bosses (AO) – Albergo Ristorante San Giors (1815), Torino – Ristorante Antica Bottega Del Vino (1890), Verona – Ristorante Antica Focacceria San Francesco (1834), Palermo – Ristorante Antica Locanda Di Sesto (1911), Lucca – Ristorante Antica Locanda Mincio (1407), Valeggio Sul Mincio (VR) – Ristorante Antica Trattoria Al Gallo (1909), Ravenna – Antico Caffè Greco (1760), Roma – Ristorante Antico Francischiello Da Peppino (1909), Massa Lubrense (NA) – Ristorante Antico Martini (1792), Venezia – Caffè Pasticceria Arione (1923), Cuneo – Sala Da Tè Ristorante Babington’s Tea Rooms (1893), Roma – Caffè Pasticceria Balzer 1850 (1850), Bergamo – Caffè Pasticceria Balzola (1902), Alassio (SV) – Caffè Pasticceria Baratti & Milano (1858), Torino – Pasticceria Barberis (1895), Valenza (AL) – Pasticceria Barbero (1881), Cherasco (CN) – Hotel Bellevue & Spa (1925), Cogne (AO) – Hotel Bellevue Syrene (1820), Sorrento (NA) – Hotel Bernini Palace (1750), Firenze – Ristorante La Bersagliera (1919), Banchina Santa Lucia (NA) – Ristorante Da Berti (1866), Milano – Caffè Al Bicerin (1763), Torino – Ristorante Biffi In Galleria (1867), Milano – Ristorante Birraria Ottone (1870), Bassano Del Grappa (VI) – Antico Ristorante Boeucc (1696), Milano – Pasticceria Bonfante (1922), Chivasso (TO) – Hotel Bristol Palace (1904), Genova – Caffè Bruno (1864), Cuneo – Trattoria Detta Del Bruxaboschi (1862), Genova – Ristorante Buca Di S. Antonio (1782), Lucca – Ristorante Buca Di San Francesco (1929), Arezzo – Cafè Carducci (1928), Verona – Caffè Florian (1720), Venezia – Caffè Meletti (1907), Ascoli Piceno – Hotel La Calcina (1850), Venezia – Ristorante Caffè Del Cambio (1757), Torino – Caffè Camparino in Galleria (1867), Milano – Liquoreria Carlotto (1915), Valdagno (VI) – Ristorante Casa Del Brodo Dal Dottore (1928), Palermo – Ristorante Casa Perbellini – 12 Apostoli (1750), Verona – Hotel Catullo (1888), Sirmione (BS) – Hotel Cavalletto E Doge Orseolo (1200), Venezia – Hotel Cavallino Bianco (1759), San Candido (BZ) – Pasticceria Bar Cavour 1880 (1880), Bergamo – Caffè Centrale (1796), Asolo (TV) – Ristorante Checchino Dal 1887 (1887), Roma – Grand Hotel Cocumella (1777), S. Agnello Di Sorrento (NA) – Museo Del Confetto Confetteria Mucci Giovanni (1894), Andria (BT) – Bar Pasticceria Converso (1902), Bra (CN) – Ristorante Corona (1702), San Sebastiano Curore (AL) – Pasticceria Confetteria Cova (1817), Milano – Ristorante Crotto Dei Platani (1855), Brienno (CO) – Ristorante Crotto Del Sergente (1880), Como – Pasticceria Cucchi (1936), Milano – Hotel De La Poste (1835), Cortina (BI) – Gran Caffè Defilla (1900), Chiavari (GE) – Caffè Delle Rose (1900), Verbania – Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees (1863), Stresa (VB) – Distilleria Nardini (1779), Bassano Del Grappa (VI) – Hotel Due Torri (1674), Verona – Caffè Elena (1889), Torino – Osteria Enoteca Al Brindisi (1435), Ferrara – Ristorante Erasmo (1760), Ponte A Moriano (LU) – Excelsior Palace Hotel (1901), Rapallo (GE) – Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort (1908), Lido (VE) – Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria (1834), Sorrento (NA) – Caffè Pasticceria Fabbrica Finocchiaro (1914), Giarre (CT) – Caffè Fiaschetteria Italiana (1888), Montalcino (SI) – Ristorante Filippino (1910), Lipari (ME) – Caffè Gelateria Fiorio (1780), Torino – Caffè Pasticceria Gamberini (1864), Bologna – Gran Caffè Gambrinus (1860), Napoli – Fabbrica Cioccolato Gay-Odin (1894), Napoli – Pasticceria Gemmi Il Loggiato (1840), Sarzana (SP) – Giannino Ristorante Dal 1899 (1899), Milano – Caffè Pasticceria Gilli (1733), Firenze – Bar Caffè Pasticceria Gin Rosa (1820), Milano – Hotel Ristorante Granaro Del Monte Grotta Azzurra (1800), Norcia (PG) – Grand Hotel (1884), Gardone Riviera (BS) – Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes (1874), Palermo – Caffè Grande Italia (1894), Sirmione (BS) – Bar Caffè Pasticceria Grigolon (1912), Mondovì (CN) – Hotel Miramonti (1926), Cogne (AO) – Osteria Il Governo (1801), Lezzeno (CO) – Hotel Imperial Tramontano (1812), Sorrento (NA) – Ristorante Il Vero Alfredo (1908), Roma – Hotel Imperial Tramontano (1812), Sorrento (NA) – Ristorante La Botte (1929), Monreale (PA) – Caffè Bar Ristorante La Loggia (1876), Firenze – Ristorante La Matriciana (1870), Roma – Pasticceria Lanfranchi (1890), Cremona – Gran Caffè Lavena (1750), Venezia – Bistrot Chat Qui Rit (1945), Venezia – Ristorante Locanda Del Cerriglio (1288), Napoli – Hotel Londra Palace (1860), Venezia – Antica Osteria Luchin (1907), Chiavari (GE) – Grand Hotel Majestic Baglioni (1913), Bologna – Ristorante Majore (1896), Chiaramonte Gulfi (RG) – Ristorante Al Mangia (1937), Siena – Caffè Pasticceria Mangini (1876), Genova – Ristorante Manuelina (1885), Recco (GE) – Hotel Ristorante Massimo D’Azeglio (1875), Roma – Albergo Menardi (1920), Cortina (BL) – Albergo Meranerhof (1913), Merano (BZ) – Caffè Milano (1896), Treviglio (BG) – Hotel Minerva (1875), Sorrento (NA) – Grand Hotel Minerva (1848), Firenze – Grand Hotel Miramare (1903), Santa Margherita Ligure (GE) – Hotel Moderno (1912), Pavia – Caffè Mulassano (1907), Torino – Ristorante Nettuno (1929), Paestum (SA) – Ristorante Da Ö Vittorio (1860), Recco (GE) – Ristorante O’ Canonico (1898), Sorrento (NA) – Ristorante O’ Parrucchiano (1868), Sorrento (NA) – Ristorante Osteria Antico Dolo (1989), Venezia – Ristorante Osteria Della Villetta (1900), Palazzolo Sull’Oglio (BS) – Hotel Palace Grand Hotel Varese (1913), Varese – Albergo Palazzo Seneca (1870), Norcia (PG) – Pasticceria Pansa Andrea (1830), Amalfi (SA) – Ristorante Paoli (1827), Firenze – Pasticcerie Paolo Atti & Figli (1868), Bologna – Ristorante Locanda Parco Gambrinus (1847), San Polo Di Piave (TV) – Grand Hotel Parker’s (1870), Napoli – Caffè Paszkowski (1903), Firenze – Caffè Pedrocchi (1831), Padova – Pensione Accademia Villa Maravege (1948), Venezia – Gelateria Pepino (1884), Torino – Pasticceria Pfatisch (1915), Torino – Caffè Pasticceria Piccardo (1905), Oneglia (IM) – Caffè Platti (1870), Torino – Hotel Plaza Lucchesi (1860), Firenze – Ristorante Poldino (1925), San Rossore (PI) – Caffè Poliziano (1868), Montepulciano (SI) – Grand Café Al Porto (1803), Svizzera Lugano – Antico Ristorante Porto Di Savona (1863), Torino – Hotel Alla Posta (1866), Alleghe (BL) – Hotel Principe Di Savoia (1927), Milano – Albergo Quattro Fontane (1750), Lido (VE) – Hotel Quirinale (1865), Roma – Antica Osteria La Rampina (1500), San Giuliano Milanese (MI) – Ristorante Pizzeria Mattozzi (1833), Napoli – Pasticceria Roletti 1896 (1896), San Giorgio Canavese (TO) – Confetteria Romanengo Pietro Fu Stefano (1780), Genova – Trattoria Da Romano (1900), Burano (VE) – Grand Hotel Royal (1898), Sorrento (NA) – Royal Hotel Sanremo (1872), Sanremo (IM) – Hotel Royal Victoria (1050), Pisa – Ristorante Sabatini (1924), Firenze – Caffè San Carlo (1822), Torino – Pasticceria Sandri (1860), Perugia – Ristorante A Santa Lucia (1929), Milano – Ristorante Caffè Savini (1867), Milano – Grand Hotel Sitea (1925), Torino – Negozio Sperlari (1811), Cremona – Hotel Splendide Royal (1887), Lugano – Pasticceria Stratta (1836), Torino – Antica Trattoria Suban (1865), Trieste – Caffè Pasticceria Tagliaferri (1900), Rossano (CS) – Caffè Del Tasso (1476), Bergamo Alta (BG) – Ristorante Taverna Del Lupo (1925), Gubbio (PG) – Ristorante Taverna Rovita (1700), Maratea (PZ) – Hotel The Gritti Palace (1948), Venezia – Ristorante Torre di Pisa (1951), Milano (MI) – Ristorante Trattoria Alla Vedova (1859), Udine

Supporting Members

The prestigious companies that partner with us

For years, several prestigious, long-established companies have partnered with and supported the Associazione Locali Storici d’Italia in its mission to research and promote Italy’s oldest establishments in the spirit of cultural tourism.