Chapter IV. Luoghi del cuore

Piera Sancassani runs Pasticceria Sancassani in Bellagio. Founded in 1978 by her husband, Angelo, this is one of our favorite pastry shops, cafés, and ice cream parlors. Piera’s warmth, strength and love for the shop and Bellagio is unique, so who better to introduce you to the town’s heart than her…

I was born in Bellagio on May 4th, 1947. How times have changed.

Back then, people didn’t move around that much and you went everywhere on foot. There was such a silence in Bellagio that everything could be heard, including the noise of the tin buckets in the morning. We didn't have cows but all the neighbors did, and in the morning they had to be milked so everyone would walk to their stable with their lidded tin bucket. It was the town’s alarm clock.

Often, my grandmother would send me to see them. I’ve always liked older people because of the stories they shared. Now I’m old too and get to tell the stories.

The thing I miss most from those days is my husband Angelo. He was a ‘big man’ (un bestione) because he was large. Larger than life. He made people laugh and actually started the pastry shop almost as a joke. 

We lived here in Visgnola, a hamlet of Bellagio, and had this large, empty cellar that he thought he could turn into a business. I didn’t want to work with him, but I was always at the pastry shop. There was work to do and so I rolled up my sleeves.

We have three children: Franco, Cesare and Betta. I’m grateful for everything our family has been able to create in Bellagio, and I think we’ve done our bit to put our pearl on people’s maps. Or, should I say, our children have done their bit. 

Cesare is now pastry chef in the shop and produces such magic. Franco was a big rower, following in his father’s footsteps, and then Betta started rowing.

 Bak to Bellagio