This post was originally published in 2014; it has been revised and updated to reflect the passing of Anna Majani.
No culinary visit to Bologna would be complete without a visit to Majani, the maker of Italy’s first solid chocolate
There are many old shops with appealing window displays in the historic district of Bologna that beg passersby to step inside.
While the city is better known for its artisanal traditions of mortadella and salumi; ragu sauces, and sfoglia (handmade egg pasta twisted into wonderful shapes), another not-to-be missed culinary shrine for visitors is Casa Majani 1796.
Steeped in history, the confectionary shop’s elegant window displays, Belle Epoque furnishings, and artistic packaging are only overshadowed by the taste of its gourmet chocolates, known throughout the world.
Majani: A more than two-century history
The family business began in 1796 in a small workshop, set up by Teresa Majani, which produced high quality chocolates in the shadow of the Basilica San Petronio, the main church of Bologna.
Originally called The Laboratory of Sweet Things (il Laboratorio delle Cose Dolci), the business was so successful that in 1830, the family purchased a larger space at numbers 5 and 7 Via de’ Carbonesi (its present location), which later became known by locals as Palazzo Majani. The family lived upstairs above the first floor workshop, store and tearoom.
Surprisingly (to me), until the end of the 1700s, the aristocracy and clergy only consumed chocolate in a liquid form.
In 1832, the Majani workshop in Bologna became the birthing place for the first piece of solid chocolate in Italy. It was called Scorza (bark, in English) because it looked like the bark of a tree.
Until 1871, Italy was still divided into different states so Guiseppe Majani needed a passport (issued by the Papal State) to travel to Turin in 1856 to purchase the latest steam-driven technology for making chocolate for the aristocracy. Just imagine: He made that trip before the invention of the refrigerator and the automobile.
From there, you might just say that the business took off, becoming a favorite for the city’s social and intellectual aristocracy, earning accolades and medals at exhibitions throughout Europe long before the democratization of chocolate occurred as we know it (Think: Hershey’s and Mars).
A turning point for the growth of the company took place in 1911, when it won a competition to create a chocolate, their signature Cremino Fiat, to celebrate the launch of the first FIAT car, the Fiat Tipo 4. Aldo Majani added a fourth layer of chocolate to the popular cremino chocolate cube, a favorite with many chocolate lovers.
The winning chocolate—made of layers of hazelnut and almond paste alternating with sweet gianduja chocolate—was wrapped in foil and then covered with white paper imprinted with the gold and black FIAT logo. It is still sold in the store today and all over Italy.
Unfortunately, like many businesses in Europe, Majani suffered through tough times during World War II, when the family lost its majority share of the company. But in 1985, Francesco Mezzadri Majani and his mother Anna recaptured ownership and were able to reestablish the family business.
The legacy of Anna Majani, the Queen of Chocolate
Anna Majani, who had worked in the family business from the time she was a teen, became known as the “Queen of Chocolate.” In addition to serving as vice-president of the company, she was also a beloved patron of the arts who welcomed artists from film and theater to her home close to the center of the city. A member of the board of directors of the Teatro Comunale, she was an active supporter of Casa Lyda Borelli, a retirement home dedicated to Italian actors, directors, musicians, stage technicians and other dramatic artists.
Sadly, in March 2021, Anna died of complications from COVID, at the age of 85. “Entrepreneur and woman of culture who has given so much to our city, her commitment and work have helped to raise the reputation of Bologna and Italy in the world,” said Virginio Merola, mayor of Bologna when he commented on her passing..
The Majani company is still led by Francesco Mezzadri Majani, Anna’s son, marking the seventh generation of the family.
Majani specialties
With its plant located in Crespellano, just outside Bologna, Majani is one of the few chocolate makers that still starts the process of chocolate-making with raw cocoa seeds imported from Central America. This lengthy and intricate procedure used is costly but creates results that are especially pleasing to the palate.
Inside the downtown shop, visitors can arrange for a chocolate tasting of several Majani chocolates (as I recall, it cost about 3 euros per person), including the FIAT, scorza, and tortellino (singular for toretellini), and orange peel dipped in chocolate.
Truly fresh chocolate is seasonal so the company closes down production between June and September. In the fall, visitors at the store can purchase the traditional marron glacés, glazed candied chestnuts.
Majani chocolates are now distributed in 28 countries around the world. Once you take a bit and visit the shop, you’ll want to return,
IF YOU GO
Majani 1796, Via De’ Carbonesi 5, 40123 Bologna
*We first visited Majani on a Discover the Flavors of Emilia walking tour offered by Bologna Welcome (official tourism site) and have returned each time we’ve stayed in Bologna.
For additional information: Emilia Romagna Tourism (official tourism information site)
Other posts about Bologna and Emilia Romagna on More Time To Travel:
- Eating pizza in Bologna
- Visiting the oldest bakery in Bologna
- Italian pasta etiquette: What you need to know
- Celebrating mortadella in Bologna
- Salame Rosa: Mortadella’s cousin
- CSI Bologna: The pickpocket
- Celebrating World Pasta Day
- A day in Bologna
- The warm hands that make pasta in Bologna
- A road trip on the Via Emilia
- Brisighella: Forget the spa and start pumping…olive oil
- Casa Artusi: A living museum of Italian home cooking
- The Malatestiana Library in Cesena
- Sant’Agata Feltria: On the trail of the white truffle festival
15 Comments
Marilyn Jones
November 3, 2014 at 5:15 pmFascinating!! And, as always, love the photos…yum!!
Irene S. Levine
November 3, 2014 at 5:23 pmI loved learning a bit about the history of chocolate in Italy!
Johanna
November 4, 2014 at 8:14 amOh this is so not fair! I love love love good chocolate and about the best I can hope for is Cadburys or maybe Lindt (which let’s face it isn’t bad), but proper Italian chocolate and lots of it … now that’s just too much for a girl as she’s off to bed! Loved learning about the history of chocolate 🙂
Irene S. Levine
November 4, 2014 at 8:51 amWhen I took an MSC Cruise, they left a Venchi cremino cube on my pillow each night. That wasn’t bad either:-)
Sand In My Suitcase
November 4, 2014 at 11:17 amYou had us at “chocolate” :-). Luv the looks of that chocolate-dipped orange peel… No doubt the Italians can make as wicked a chocolate as the Swiss or Belgians…
Irene S. Levine
November 4, 2014 at 2:31 pmIsn’t traveling a great excuse for eating chocolate? 🙂
Mickey
November 4, 2014 at 8:35 pmJust had my (yummy) share of Dutch and German chocolate on a Viking Cruise down the Rhine. In Heidelberg, a sixth generation shop sells “Student Kisses” once used to woo lovely maidens. We were wooed by the chocolate!
Irene S. Levine
November 5, 2014 at 7:40 pmI’ll have to look out for those “student kisses.” Sounds enticing~
Mike
November 5, 2014 at 12:51 amI started reading with not as much interest (not a big sweets eater) until I saw that scorza! Yes please! As long as I could also get plenty of the meats, cheeses and pastas too 🙂 I’ve been reading that European Cruises book, Irene…it’s great…and thank you again! 🙂
Irene S. Levine
November 5, 2014 at 7:40 pmSo glad you are enjoying Doug Ward’s book, Mike!
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
November 5, 2014 at 11:22 amThis is so fascinating. The “Laboratory of Sweet Things” name really caught my eye. I love chocolate, so I think this would be a definite stop for me in Bologna. I’d probably buy so many boxes that I wouldn’t need to purchase the tasting — just do one of my own.
Irene S. Levine
November 5, 2014 at 7:41 pmThe packaged boxes were tempting but so were the individual pieces:-)
Muza-chan
November 6, 2014 at 1:07 amDelicious…
Doreen Pendgracs
February 2, 2015 at 10:21 pmDon’t you just love Italian chocolate? It is among the best in the world. I have not yet been to Bologna, but I’ve certainly eaten my way around the chocolate shops of Italy, and wish I was back there right now! Thx for this post, Irene.
Irene S. Levine
February 2, 2015 at 10:22 pmThis would be a perfect destination for a chocolate explorer like you, Doreen!