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granita

much lighter and less controversial topic than my earlier post that got taken down! well, on the other hand, when it comes to granita, 'fistfights' can occur very quickly!

anyway, my absolute favorite drink/dessert is granita. i discovered it first in the early 2000's when i went multiple times to the aeolian islands. fast forward to my sicily trip last year and i was eagerly reacquainted. i must say i have turned into a bit of a granita hound or snob, depending on who i am talking to. the point is even in sicily not all granitas are made equal. the best among all the one ones i had were at cefalu and scicli. can't remember the names of the bars but i can give you a 'map' at a later time.

my question to all of you, granita aficionados, is where to find the best granita, if at all, north of sicily. a sicilian would say nowhere but i have to disagree. this year i found a place in lecce and another in matera that are really good. i am saving the best for last because i am in arezzo and have been going to a place here that makes as good a granita as the best in sicily. yes i said it and the let battle begin! the place is called 'golo'gio' at via giuseppe garibaldi 47. they have gelato too but my quest ended when i tasted the granita.

well, i am moving on from arezzo to other tuscan towns and would love to know if you have found real granita, not from one of those churning slushie machines, in places like siena, pistoia, prato, lucca etc. please, haha!

Posted by
15560 posts

My first one was in Cefalo. My favorite was on the same trip a couple weeks later in Bologna. I don't know the name but it was the only one their that always had a line. I like granita best in hot weather, it's much more cooling (and lasts longer) than gelato. But since most of my visits to Italy are in winter or early spring, for me it's too cold for granita, but it's never too cold for really good gelato.

Posted by
9460 posts

Here's the thing -- it just has to be wherever Sicilians have resettled elsewhere in Italy.

Although my husband just told me in May that our favorite Sicilian-owned granita place near to his mother's apartment is now closed 🙁

Posted by
29 posts

Bam Bar in Taormina is our favorite and no one does them as well as in Sicily. But I did find a decent one in Siena the other day at Kopakabana - which also makes the best gelato in Siena i my opinion.

Posted by
321 posts

thanks for your replies!
@heather: just got into siena and i will certainly seek out kopakabana. i did walk by one which said 'granita artigianale siciliana'. didn't look at the name but could be the same.

Posted by
321 posts

i can report that 'il masgalano' gelateria has excellent sicilian granita. there is also a gelateria very close to the campo that has decent (good texture but weak taste) granita. can't remember the name.
unfortunately, 'kopakabana' serverd their granita from a machine with a syrupy taste.