If you find yourself near the Mercato di Piazza Madama Cristina in San Salvario, do yourself a favor and stop by Panetteria Ficini. This amazing bakery has been around since 1988, but it is much more than a place to buy bread: it's a workshop of flavor, culture, passion, and care.
Here, bread is taken seriously. Stone-ground flours, ancient grains, long fermentation processes--everything is done with respect for tradition and attention to quality. From the rare and delicious salt-free Tuscan bread (pane sciapo), to the intense Nero di Castelvetrano made from Sicilian durum wheat, to vegan loaves and grape juice-fermented spelt bread--each product reflects research, craftsmanship, and passion.
Some of their creations are at the intersection of anthropology, archaeology, and baking. Like the Biblical Bread (Pan Biblico), which is baked only during the Christmas season and from Lent to Easter, using ingredients mentioned in the Bible: whole grain flours (spelt, barley, malted wheat, bean flour), poppy seeds, honey, flax seeds, Dead Sea salt, and more. Unleavened and unsalted Arabic bread is a favorite of mine; it's the perfect bread to go with a nice savory cheese.
Alongside bread, you'll find an amazing selection of grissini (breadsticks): olive, sesame, walnut, oil, or light water-based ones. And Genovese focaccia, Recco-style focaccia, rustic pizzas (some topped with fresh cheese and vegetables), crostatas, dry pastries, and seasonal delicacies like artisan panettoni and colombe. Some of the sweets I love here are pan pepito, pan del pescatore, almond amaretti (both sweet and bitter), baci di dama, pastiera, stiacciata all'anice, an amazing pear and chocolate tart, and so much more.
The long counter at Ficini draws you in: it's nearly impossible to leave with just the loaf you intended to buy. But that's the beauty of it. Good bread is one of life's purest pleasures, and at Ficini, they've made it an art form.
In a city renowned for its traditions and culinary depth, Panetteria Ficini stands as proof that the most extraordinary experiences often hide in the most humble forms. For anyone who believes that food should tell stories, honor traditions, and bring people together, this gem of a bakery isn't just recommended; it's essential.
Matteo Ruggiu
.
11 Giugno 2025
10,0
if it weren't for the waitress named Giusi, who was unpleasant in her way of acting and didn't know how to entertain a customer, with haste and coldness in carrying out, classic sales assistants who make you never want to return again, because the others seemed kind.
A.M87
.
21 Febbraio 2025
6,0