Sicily is the birthplace of modern gelato

Modern gelato has its origins in Sicily, credited to Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli. A cook and fisherman from Aci Trezza, Procopio dei Coltelli is said to have invented the contemporary version of gelato in 1686 by perfecting a machine inherited from his grandfather.

The evolution of frozen treats in the region began with the use of snow collected from Mount Etna and other mountains, which was stored in specialized caves known as ‘niviere’. This tradition, influenced by Arab customs of consuming snow with fruit juices or milk, led to the creation of granita and sorbet before the development of modern gelato.