WanderMuseYing
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The history of Pasticceria Liquoreria Marescotti di Cavo in Genoa, Italy, is a rich tale of tradition, resilience, and revival, deeply intertwined with the city’s culinary and cultural heritage. This establishment traces its origins back over two centuries, reflecting the evolution of Genoese pastry-making and the perseverance of two families—the Marescottis and the Cavos.
The shop’s story begins in 1780, when it was founded as Cioccolateria Cassottana, a chocolate-focused business. For over a century, it operated under various names and owners, including Lagorio and Marenco, serving as a confectionery hub in Genoa’s bustling old town. In 1906, the business took on the name Marescotti, after the De Micheli-Marescotti family from Novi Ligure, a town with ties to Liguria’s culinary traditions. The Marescottis transformed the shop into a Pasticceria Liquoreria, blending classic Genoese patisserie with the sophisticated sweets of the Savoy Court (reflecting Piedmontese influence) and introducing their own aromatic wines and vermouth. This fusion elevated its status, making it a favorite among locals and travelers arriving by steamer at Genoa’s port.
The story takes a turn in the late 1990s with Alessandro Cavo, a fifth-generation confectioner from the Cavo family, whose ancestors had invented the famous Amaretti di Voltaggio in the late 19th century. he spent six years writing handwritten letters to the Marescotti heirs, offering pastries as gestures of goodwill, until they finally agreed to meet in 2007. The result was a unique gentlemen’s agreement: the Marescotti trademark was leased to the Cavo family for 99 years, in exchange for the first Amaretto di Voltaggio produced each year and the perpetual display of Irma and Beniamino Marescotti’s portraits in the shop.
In short, the pasticceria’s journey—from its 1780 founding as Cioccolateria Cassottana, through the Marescotti golden age, to its Cavo-led renaissance—embodies a blend of tradition, innovation, and a deep love for Genoa’s culinary past.
