Choco Italia in Tour - Artisanal Chocolate Fair

Tivoli: Capital of Artisanal Chocolate

Since 2023, the Tivoli stop of Choco Italia in Tour has become a staple of the autumn season in the Lazio region. This fair, dedicated to artisanal chocolate and Italian sweets, sets up its stands in Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, the grand terrace at the entrance to Tivoli's historic center, just meters from Villa d'Este. For a long weekend, the city—a UNESCO World Heritage site home to Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este—is filled with the scent of cocoa: a perfect marriage of ancient history and contemporary indulgence.

A National Tour Born in 2021

Choco Italia is a traveling event organized by the Associazione Italia Eventi. Since 2021, it has visited dozens of cities across Central and Southern Italy with the goal of connecting consumers with the quality chocolate supply chain. The project is part of The Chocolate Way, an international network that promotes the culture, tradition, and history of chocolate in Europe. The fair first arrived in Tivoli in November 2023, under the patronage of the Municipality of Tivoli, and has since returned in both spring and autumn, establishing itself as a recurring stop on the tour within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital.

A Market of Sweets

The heart of the event is the lively market of exhibitors: master chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and artisanal producers from all over Italy offer a sensory journey through the peninsula's confectionery excellence. On the stalls, you will find:

• artisanal pralines, chocolate bars, and cremini;
• nougats, hazelnut brittle, and traditional regional sweets;
• spreadable creams made with Giffoni PGI hazelnuts;
• confectionery specialties from various Italian regions.

Workshops, Children, and Charity

Choco Italia is more than just tastings: the European Cultural Factory of Artisanal Chocolate is an educational space where master chocolatiers share the history of cocoa, its origins, and processing techniques. Visitors of all ages can become a "chocolatier for a day" by creating their own personalized chocolate bar. The afternoon "Grandparents and Grandchildren: A World of Chocolate" sessions and the puppet shows featuring Pulcinella, which bring the square to life during the weekend, are also highly popular. Through the "Healthy Snack" initiative, fresh local bread and PGI hazelnut cream are offered to support local volunteer associations: a delicious gesture that turns into a charitable act.

A Square Between Two UNESCO Heritage Villas

The setting could not be more evocative: from Piazza Garibaldi, you are just a few steps away from Villa d'Este, a Renaissance masterpiece famous for its fountains. Nearby, you can also explore Villa Adriana, the residence of Emperor Hadrian, and the Villa Gregoriana park with its grand waterfall. The chocolate fair is the perfect excuse for an autumn getaway that combines art, landscape, and flavor in the heart of Lazio.