Vivoli, a symbol of artisanal Florentine gelato since 1930 in via Isola delle Stinche, near piazza Santa Croce, is celebrating 95 years of business.
In 1929, Serafino Vivoli founded a dairy shop that quickly became a place where Florentines would meet for a good coffee or to buy whipped cream for Sunday lunch. When his brother Raffaello joined the business in 1930, the two decided to take try their hand at making artisanal gelato. At the time, natural ice came from Saltino, near Vallombrosa, where it was produced in the winter and stored in large icehouses until the summer. The ice was transported to the city at night to prevent it from melting along the way. In the 1960s and ’70s, Piero Vivoli, Raffaello’s son, increased the gelateria’s popularity, ensuring its inclusion in top international guidebooks.
The new Vivoli Affogato Bar
Now, the third generation of the Vivoli and Gori families is marking the anniversary by opening an Affogato Bar in a small space next door to the coffee shop and gelato parlour. It is the next step in the evolution in the Vivoli experience as the family-run business grapples with the social media success of its historic Gran Crema, a delicious combination of homemade cream gelato and espresso coffee. The viral sensation came about when filmmaker Sam Youkilis posted the delight on his Instagram feed in May 2023 with the words “the best affogato i’ve ever had”.
In a move to increase business or direct social media-inspired consumers towards a takeaway option—something that continues to be a bone of contention along the narrow backstreet—since the new locale has no seating, the bar focuses almost entirely on affogati, where the artisanal gelato is paired in surprising combinations with coffee, liqueurs and other delicacies. The new premises reflects the same style as the Art Nouveau wooden furnishings, marble countertops and terracotta flooring in the main coffee shop. Vivoli merchandise also lines the shelves.
