Although my eye is trained to catch the exterior and interiors of historical pastry shops, in this instance, I almost failed to observe this gem. When entering the shop, it looked modern and newly designed, however, something about the beautiful pastries, colorful marzipan, and lovely cakes made me wonder - could this be a case of a "pastry time capsule" in a hip costume? Could the pastry chef hiding in the kitchen actually be a descendant of a lineage of bakers? After chatting with the staff I realized that my instincts didn't fail me—these beautiful confections were indeed made by the hand of a multi-generational artist.
The historic Pasticceria Marciante was established in Syracuse at the end of the 19th century by Eugenio Marciante. His son Ernesto carried on the tradition in the early 20th century, eventually passing it down to his sons Valerio and Giuseppe. The brothers managed the pastry shop until 2020 in its historic location. In 2021, Giuseppe continued the family legacy by opening a new pastry shop called "Amandorla," expressing his love for almonds, a key ingredient in many traditional Sicilian sweets.
Giuseppe chose to remain in Ortigia, the historic center of Syracuse, establishing his new business a few meters from the Duomo and the location of the historic bakery. In the Amandorla laboratory, Giuseppe crafts pastries and sweets using raw materials sourced locally, maintaining high quality and a strong connection with the region.
I chose a watermelon-shaped marzipan and an almond cookie, as apparently, I share an almond passion with Giuseppe. The marzipan was "almondy" in just the right way - not too sweet or bitter. The cookies' texture felt like a cloud melting in my mouth. It was one of the most delightful almond cookies I have ever tried.
I then realized I had found something special - a sweet link to Syracuse's rich culinary heritage. The new location may look modern, but the legacy of the Marciante family lives on in this hidden "pastry time capsule".
Amandorla Marciante, Via della Amalfitania, Siracusa Sicily
Comments