Ditta Artigianale Opens in Pzz. Ferrucci

 

A brand new Ditta Artigianale opened its doors in Piazza Ferrucci on March 30, the Florentine coffee chain’s fifth location in 10 years of business. Despite its location — slightly off the beaten path for the average tourist — the café has already been attracting customers due to its distinctiveness and cultivated charm. Plenty of seating, an outdoor bar shaded by colorful umbrellas, flora, and greenery, and an adjacent bakery and newsstand, make the literary cafe the perfect springtime place to read a book over breakfast or meet a friend for afternoon aperitivo. 

To see a photo gallery of the new location, click here.

Ever since the opening of the first location on Via de’ Neri in 2013, Ditta Artigianale has represented a crossover between the city of Florence and its increasing internationality. Experimental coffee drinks, a largely Americanized menu, and sites in touristic areas all serve to attract a more global audience. The opening of the newest location is an attempt by founders Francesco Sanapo and Patrick Hoffer to bring the company back to Florentines, their decision to build it in Piazza Ferrucci born out of a desire to cater to locals through the regeneration of a cherished historic space. 

Part of this regeneration comes through the cafe’s unique features and connection to nature, which make the newest Ditta stand out from its predecessors as the very first literary cafe of the chain. An adjacent bakery promises freshly baked bread and artisanal pastries, which locals can enjoy whilst reading their daily copy of the paper thanks to the newsstand integrated into the cafe. A large outdoor tree-lined patio practically invites sociability and bonding over coffee and food — the menu containing both hot and cold food as well as signature drinks. 

Even more inspiring is Ditta’s connection to charity: the cafe’s colorful outdoor couches covered in plaid blankets were created in collaboration with sustainable textile brand “Fody Fabrics,” whose mission is to eliminate waste by turning it into blankets for homeless and refugees, while providing jobs to disadvantaged communities.

Love for Florence is practically built into the foundation of the cafe. Through its transformation of an old, culturally significant space into a peaceful, modern place for locals to meet and share food and drinks, Ditta Artigianale is taking yet another step toward redefining Florentine coffee culture.

Visit the newest Ditta Artigianale at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 1R.  Open Mon. – Fri: 7 am – 11 pm, Sat. & Sun: 8 am – 11 pm.  (Vivian Stacy)