One has a sense of history in this patisserie in Via San Francesco d’Assisi, right in the centre of Turin. It was in 1978 that the Guardia family (who previously had a shop in Via Borgaro) acquired the historic Confetteria Barberis, with its period furniture and art nouveau decorations that still evoke the regal soul of a city that is an undisputed leader in the art of Italian confectionery. Not to be missed here are the langorini (the name is a homage to Piedmont’s Langhe hills and the city itself), hazelnut biscuits with a chocolate cream filling available in ten different versions: from almond to caramel to berry fruit. The product range embraces classic Piedmontese confectionery with a contemporary take here and there – witness the colourful, glossy individual mini-cakes, among which we recommend the blackcurrant, the pistachio and, in season, the marron glacé. There’s also a vast range of fresh pastries, biscuits and puff pastry canapés, a specialty of the house. Closed on Sunday.
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