Episode 1, Sapore

Maestros of the Riviera - Romanengo

Much of what defines your stay at Miramare begins in the boutique workshops along the Riviera where artisans have spent a lifetime perfecting a singular vocation.

Much of what defines your stay at Miramare begins in the boutique workshops along the Riviera where artisans have spent a lifetime perfecting a singular vocation. This season, we’re stepping outside our doors to celebrate them through our Maestros of the Riviera series.

Episode one is about the people who make this place taste so good: Romanengo is Italy’s oldest confectionery shop and the team behind our hotel chocolates and fruit gelées.

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Since 1780, when Antonio Maria Romanengo opened his apothecary shop in Genoa, the family has cultivated a unique confectionery tradition rooted in the use of rare spices, fruits, flowers, and sugar. Over seven generations, Confetteria Romanengo has evolved from a spice merchant into one of Italy’s most historic confectioneries, refining the art of candying and preserving while remaining deeply anchored to its heritage.

The historic shop on Via Soziglia, opened in the early 19th century and still the heart of the business today, reflects this legacy. Its frescoed ceilings, marble floors, and finely carved wooden displays preserve the atmosphere of a bygone era, where craftsmanship and attention to detail continue to define every creation.

“It takes at least five years to truly master the art of confetti,” says Pietro Romanengo, a seventh-generation member of the Romanengo family. He is a man who measures time not in minutes, but in the patience required to slowly coat an almond in sugar or crystallize a delicate violet.

Romanengo’s ethos is a rebellion against a fast-paced world. While the rest of the planet sped up, they chose to remain still, honoring the time it takes to achieve quality. 

Their master craftsmen - the true custodians of their heritage - still work entirely by hand, following recipes that haven’t changed since the days of steamships.

Their work is a celebration of the Ligurian coastline’s biodiversity. They take the bitter chinotto oranges, delicate rose petals and wild violets of the Ligurian hills, and transform them into something edible and extraordinary. 

These ingredients are the result of a long-standing marriage between the sea and the wooded hillsides behind Genoa, enriched by the spices brought back by merchants from ancient sea voyages.

The Romanengo family accept the ‘slowness’ of their production because they know it’s the only way to protect the flavor. It is a model built on short supply chains, manual skill, and a deep respect for the raw materials.

Even a legend with over 245 years of history knows how to add a fresh twist: their historic shop on Via Soziglia has recently grown, opening a new space called La Corte. 

This tea room, located right next to the original confectionery, is a serene spot to sit from morning until afternoon. It’s a place to pause, sip and taste the same sugar-dusted heritage that has defined the Riviera for centuries.

So… When you find the Romanengo chocolates or fruit gelées waiting in your room at the Miramare, take a moment before the first bite. You’re about to taste years of Genoese sun, salt and stubborn, beautiful tradition.