Inside the historical bakeries of Milan for discovering what bread means for people

Milan is a modern Italian city in continuous evolution, the beating heart of business and progress and the capital of fashion, design and culture.

But there is another side of the city that preserves its ancient traditions: it’s the Milan of the historical cafés, restaurants and above all the old bakeries, where the cuisine remains unchanged: characteristic and genuine.

And we went right to these historical bakeries of Milan – the oldest ones - to discover what bread represents for people.

In the historic centre of the city, near Milan’s Duomo Cathedral, there’s a famous bakery, well-known for its “Panzerotto”, a little deep-fried and served hot dough – a traditional immigrant recipe from another Italian region, the Apulia - filled with tomato sauce and mozzarella. In front of this historical bakery – founded in 1888 - many locals and tourists queue up to buy this little delicacy or other types of baked products.

“Bread is not only a side dish that complements our favourite recipes; it is also conviviality, a food able to bring together people from different European countries and beyond. Bread means 'union'" – a Japanese tourist said. On the other hand, a university student from Italy, said that for him bread means “home”, the relationship with his land.

Moving away from the centre of Milan and heading south, near the Abbiategrasso underground station, there’s another old bakery, founded in 1903. We went there and we asked a regular customer what bread is for her. The old woman showed us the bakery’s bread bag – similar to the ones used in the past – and she answered: “Bread means tradition.  For 112 years they have made top quality bread with the same passion of the first time. This bakery is a piece of Milan’s history!”

If we go back to the heart of Milan, in one of the historical district of the city, near the Univerisità Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, there is a well-known bakery founded in 1907. Many university students usually come here to taste one of the traditional baked products like little French bread pizzas or millefoglie pastries. We met one of them in front of the bakery and we asked him what bread means for him. His spontaneous answer was “Bread means gratification after a day spent studying”.

We asked our last question to a grandfather with his grandson that were going out from a famous bakery located near Navigli district in Milan founded in 1913. “Bread means childhood memories. I remember when I was a child my grandfather always brought me to the bakery to buy fresh bread. Now I do the same thing with my grandson. History repeats itself and traditions are always the same.“

Every country has a bread story to share with you. We started with this Italian bread story, told by the people of Milan. But if you want to discover more bread stories, come visit our pavilion and also the pavilion of the participating EU Member States. You will find a surprise for you.