Tiny pastry shop with a miniscule bar area for coffee and drinks. Looks to be the only pasticceria…read morein the immediate vicinity. The selection of baked goods is limited but it's definitely good quality. My canoli was fresh, with a perfectly crisp shell and a light and silky ricotta filling. Also, the filling was just a bit sweet which is how i prefer it. In the US the canoli fillings are usually so cloyingly sweet and so dense that their not worth eating. Nice to have some of the good stuff for a change.

This chocolate shop is beyond fabulous. The chocolate makers are true artists. You will find all…read morethings chocolate here and all beautifully created. Everything we tried was so beautiful to behold you almost didn't want to eat it. But once you bite into anything here, you swoon. There is candy, pastries, cake, cookies all made with exquisite care and the best ingredients. This is a wonderful place to pick up a few gifts to bring back home. I don't know too many people who wouldn't feel like they've died and gone to heaven after sampling some of the chocolates made here. I was so taken with the chocolate in the shape of attrezzi (tools) and nuts and bolts....so cool! Even the coloration of the chocolate was made on some pieces, to suggest a hint of rust. The owners of the shop are helpful and kind. This is a beautiful, old-world chocolate shop with delicious and gorgeous products. The shop itself is in an ancient building within the walled city of Lucca. Everything about it, like all of the walled city of Lucca is just dreamy. Go!

Some very good chocolate. There were these circle chocolate topped with nuts that I saw the…read moreprevious customers bought, so I decided to give them a try as well. They were quite good. Might have been peanuts...not sure. Chocolate with raisins were well balanced. Would definitely stop by again when we're in town!

What an absolute treat! From cookies to gelato, and featuring a variety of coffee options,…read morePasticceria Giovannini is worth the stop. The cookies are all crumble in your mouth fresh, with an attention to quality that is immediately apparent. Each offering has a unique style and flavor, and everything is very reasonably priced. The staff is super friendly, especially if you're making an effort to communicate in Italian. And as you'd expect, this cafe has a neighborhood, local feel. It's stylish and lively, but not overwhelming. One of our favorite spots in Montecatini.

Words don't do this place justice! Amazing pasticceria!!! Friendly staff, super affordable, amazing…read moreespresso and the desserts are out of this world. My mother and I were on vacation in Montecatini at a hotel that was a 1 minute walk away (dangerous). Our morning routine was to get a cappuccino and un caffe. The espresso was strong and full of flavor. Most days we came back later in the day and tried other varieties - all great. Now about the desserts....nothing like I've ever tasted in America! Everything was so clean, had unique tastes with a perfect amount of sweetness - just mouthwatering. The prices were super low too. One visit we got 5 pastries for 8 euros. Giovannini makes me want to vacation there again ASAP!!

This place sure is dangerous! All the chocolate you can imagine and you can purchase as many as you…read morewant since it's all based on weight. They offer a huge selection of Perugina, my favorite is baci of course. Come here but be cautious ;)

Nino and friends is my happy place. I purposely came back to Florence only to purchase candy and…read morecellos from the store. It is such a joy to shop there. The store had wall to wall goodies. Goodies that you get to taste. As soon as you enter there are staff members offering all kinds delicious treats filled with tasty goodness. They have coconut balls with lemon cream inside, green covered chocolates with limoncello inside, they have salted caramel with chocolate, Cappuccino cookies with coffee flavor cream inside, they have limoncello, melon cello, and my favorite peach cello to drink. I bought a lot to take back home, but also I just enjoyed the samples they kept offering me...MY HAPPY PLACE, especially after many Dixie cups of cello sampling. They are still trying to get there online ordering up and working. I tried for the past year to order on line. One great service they offer is mailing your purchase back to your home. The cost is really reasonable too. I mailed a large order back home for 55 Euros. I have mailed a box from California to Boston and it costed me more.

They gave so many samples we even bought one of their things if you're if you go to sienna and…read moreyou're looking for a little dessert go to this place now

Recently visited Lucca. Lovely store with fabulous treats. The Italian cookies are so good. Highly…read morerecommend.

Cute little store for a chocolatier that was founded in Bologna. I was visiting Bologna for the…read morefirst time and wanted to bring home some chocolate. This store only has their brand, but they have a very large selection!! They have a great variety of chocolates (dark, milk, white, with nuts, etc) in different packaging (chocolate bars, gift sets, etc). I chatted a bit with the cashier, and she was so sweet and kind. She shared some of their history and provided recommendations. I bought a couple chocolate bars (milk chocolate with pistachios and dark chocolate with hazelnuts) and a gift set that has some of their signature pieces. Everything was delicious! But definitely pricier than I am used to. Especially compared to the very little bit that comes in the box.

Very thankful we stopped in Bologna's famous Majani Cioccolato! The woman helping us was very kind…read moreand patient explaining each of the famous chocolates. We got our gifts for those back home here and I can't wait to share them!

Best chocolates I've ever had in my life, and I grew up around great chocolate in NYC…read more Catinari's is a hidden jewel of Italy. It's worth the 1/2 hour's ride on the regional local train out from Florence to try and buy these chocolates. Dozens of types of chocolates, bars, pre-made gift sets, Xmas chocolates in season, cocoa powder, everything. Check their website for the goodies! http://www.robertocatinari.it/ Excellent and friendly service, even though little English spoken. They're a 5-minute walk from the station: Google maps is wrong - Coming from Florence, you cross the tracks, take the road to, and over the small bridge 2 minutes down, then make a left down Via Provinciale (main road), and walk 3 minutes. They're on the right side of the road, just after the small hotel 'il Villino'. 60 euro/kilo comes out to 27/lb USD. A small price to pay for greatness!

Incredibly rich cioccolata calda (hot chocolate). Charming store with huge selection of…read morechocolate/dessert items that appear to be made in-house. Mmmmm.

Got 4 fabulous cream puffs and a delicious cup of real hot chocolate -- what a lovely treat on a…read morerainy day! It was hard to choose among all the delicious looking treats (the pastries all appear to be made on site) and the staff and the other customers were really welcoming. My favorite memory of Orvietto (except for the Duomo :)