Paolo Atti & Figli has been selling fresh pasta and traditional bread from Via Drapperie since 1868, making it one of the oldest continuously operating food shops in Bologna. The shop sits in the Quadrilatero — the medieval market district between Piazza Maggiore and Via Rizzoli — where salumerie, bakeries, and pasta shops have traded since the 15th century. Tortellini, tagliatelle, tigelle, and seasonal baked goods including certosino and Bolognese pinza are all still made here by hand. For a broader introduction to the area, our guided Bologna food tour covers the Quadrilatero as part of a half-day walk.
History
Established by Paolo Atti in 1868, the shop was built around a determination to protect and document Bologna’s culinary identity. It has remained a family-run business across generations, maintaining the same recipes and preparation methods with very little change. Stepping inside — the wooden counters, the scent of baking bread, pasta being shaped by hand — reflects a continuity that connects modern Bologna with its past.
What they make
The shop produces a wide range of Bolognese specialities: freshly handmade tortellini and tagliatelle, tigelle, and piadina. The pasta is made daily; arrive early for the best selection.
On the baking side, the seasonal specialities are the reason to visit at certain times of year. Bolognese pinza is a traditional sweet bread; certosino (also known as pan speziale) is a Christmas cake made with honey, almonds, pine nuts, dark chocolate, and candied fruit — a recipe unchanged for centuries and one of the most distinctive things to buy in Bologna in November and December.
Practical information
Paolo Atti & Figli is at Via Drapperie 6, Bologna, in the heart of the Quadrilatero. The Quadrilatero is busiest between 8 and 11am — weekday mornings are quieter than weekends. The shop is a short walk from Piazza Maggiore. If you are planning a day around food in Bologna, our Bologna travel planning guide covers timing, markets, and where to eat.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Paolo Atti & Figli in Bologna?
Via Drapperie 6, Bologna, in the Quadrilatero — the medieval market district between Piazza Maggiore and Via Rizzoli. It is a five-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore and easy to combine with the surrounding salumerie and food shops in the same streets.
What does Paolo Atti & Figli sell?
Fresh handmade pasta (tortellini, tagliatelle), traditional flatbreads (tigelle, piadina), and seasonal baked goods. The certosino — a Christmas cake made with honey, almonds, pine nuts, dark chocolate, and candied fruit — is one of the most distinctive things to buy in Bologna in November and December. Arrive early for the best pasta selection; it sells out on busy days.
What is certosino?
Certosino, also known as pan speziale, is a traditional Bolognese Christmas cake made with honey, almonds, pine nuts, dark chocolate, and candied fruit. It has been produced in Bologna since the medieval period, originally by Carthusian monks. Paolo Atti & Figli makes one of the best-known versions in the city.
Is Paolo Atti & Figli worth visiting?
Yes, if you want to see traditional Bolognese pasta and baking made the way it has been made for generations. The shop is not a tourist attraction — it is a working food shop used by locals. Go to buy something: a bag of fresh tortellini, a slice of pinza, or certosino in season. The surrounding streets of the Quadrilatero are worth exploring at the same time.
What is the Quadrilatero in Bologna?
The Quadrilatero is the medieval market district of Bologna, a compact network of streets between Piazza Maggiore and Via Rizzoli. It has been a food market since the 15th century. Today it is still lined with traditional salumerie, cheese shops, fishmongers, bakeries, and pasta shops — some of the oldest food businesses in the city operate here.
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