Medieval Sweets in Siena

With marvelous Gothic architecture, fantastic osterie, and an epic horse race dating back to the 6th century, Sienna is a veritable feast for the senses. And no visit to this splendid Tuscan city would be complete without tasting its typical dolci.

Cavallucci (anise-flavored biscuits with candied orange peels), ricciarelli (soft almond cookies), and the famous panforte (spicy cake with dried fruits) are all steeped in ancient times and sold in the sweet-smelling pasticerrie lining the city’s picturesque honey-colored streets.

You’ll find the best Sienese pastries at Nannini, the oldest pastry shop in town and one of the most illustrious in the whole Italy, but there are piles of delightful bakeries around town to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Established in 1944, Pasticceria Bini is another Sienese institution famed for its crispy, almond-studded cantuccini, while Pasticceria Sinatti dishes out a killing Panforte Margherita. Also, locals swear by the delightfully chewy, freshly-backed ricciarelli (sugar-dusted almond biscuits) served at La Nuova Pasticceria since 1961.

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