The Oldest Gelateria In Rome Is A Mouth-Watering Must-Visit On Your Trip To Italy

Strolling the streets of Rome, there's certainly no shortage of gelato shops. The sweet scent of waffle cones and fruity flavors wafts down cobbled streets into the noses of hungry patrons, who wonder where to sample their next bite of delectable goodness. Rome is home to over 2,000 gelato shops, where mountains of colorful flavors entice patrons to come for a bite, making it hard for the unseasoned traveler to know where to find the best gelato.

While historians aren't entirely sure who originally invented gelato, it's been around since the 1500s, and one gelateria has been perfecting its craft since 1880, making it the oldest gelato shop in Rome. Located outside the tourist zone, close to Termini station, is Palazzo del Freddo di Giovanni Fassi, a family-operated establishment serving nothing but the freshest flavors. As with most ancient history sites in Rome, this famed gelateria has a fascinating backstory, filled with aristocrats, mustaches, and secrets to making some exceptional gelato.

The Fassi family made their way to Rome in 1880, and set up shop looking to make it big in their new city. Originally only selling ice and beer, they decided to kick it up a notch and set their focus to flavored gelato. Their son Giovanni later became a large proponent of their future successes in the industry. Starting as a young boy in his family shop, his love for baking transcended into his adult years, where he became the apprentice pastry chef and gelato maker for the king of Italy. 

In the 1900s, gelato was like housing today, in that only the rich could afford it. Giovanni, lucky enough to work in the royal household, was able to experiment with different textures and flavors other gelato makers did not have access to. Unfortunately for the king, he foolishly decided in 1903 to ban kitchen staff at court from having beards or mustaches. Giovanni, being a very prideful man when it came to his facial hair, said "ciao" to his job at the royal house and headed back to his family's shop. During his time back home, he took his knowledge of delicious desserts and changed his family's business into the successful gelateria it is today.

Today, at the head of Palazzo del Freddo is Andrea Fassi, a fifth-generation owner of the family business, who brings with him the desire to continually improve and expand the brand. One of the great things about the gelateria is the owners' love for experimenting. Flavors range from timeless classics like pistachio, lemon, strawberry, or stracciatella to more unique creations such as tiramisu, licorice, or blood orange.

Their house specialities include interesting creations such as sampietrini (small, chocolate-dipped squares resembling Rome's cobblestoned streets), or the Ninetto (gelato on a stick dipped in chocolate). Enter into Palazzo del Freddo and take a step back in time, as the inside is filled with old memorabilia showcasing years of how they've perfected their delicious craft. Reasonably priced and always delicious, Palazzo del Freddo is one of Italy's best spots for gelato, where you can try a delectable mouth-watering bite in Rome.