For the Love of Chocolate: Ciokoflo’ Artisanal Chocolate Fair 2026

Modica chocolate treats

Thurs. 12 – Sun. 15: CIOKOFLO’ ARTISANAL CHOCOLATE FAIR.  Piazza Santa Croce.  9 am – 8 pm.  Free admission; free tastings and sale of products.

Piazza Santa Croce will play host to exhibitors and visitors all united by one common interest, a  love for chocolate. At CiokoFlo’, the public can enter a competitive and delicious world free of charge. On hand will be master chocolate artisans from Italy and around the world. 

In addition to sales of their wares, many of the vendors offer samples of their goodies, enticing  fair-goers to indulge. Expect to find endless variations on the theme of white, dark, and milk, with and without nuts, nougats and puffed rice. Another decadent choice is the cremino, milk chocolate layered with torroncino (almond crunch).  

On the program is the presentation of a maxi sculpture made entirely of chocolate, culinary  demonstrations of recipes where chocolate is the fundamental ingredient, tastings of the Torta Pistocchi, a flat chocolate cake made by hand by the Pistocchi family without utilizing flour,  butter, eggs and additional sugar (Saturday 3:30 – 4:30 pm). 

CiokoFlò will come to a close on Sunday evening with a chocolate cocktail hour (Sunday 6 – 6:30 pm). All events are free of charge.

Festival highlights include:

Saturday, March 14

10:30 am – 7  pm, THE GIANT BUBBLE CART

 Adults and children alike can learn how to make giant soap bubbles.

10:30 – 11 am, PRESENTATION OF THE MAXI CHOCOLATE SCULPTURE 

A life-size work of art created by Master Chocolatier Mirco Della Vecchia will be on display to visitors until Sunday, March 15. Last year’s was a sculpted Michelangelo’s David.  This year Florence native son Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy, will be depicted in chocolate.

Free public access to the sculpture all day.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm, PalaCiokoflo’ Piazza Santa Croce | CONSORTIUM OF BAGNARA CALABRA PGI NOUGAT 

The pastry chefs of the Bagnara Calabra PGI Torrone Consortium will present a regional dessert speciality:  a sponge cake cylinder filled with chocolate cream and PGI nougat crumbs, covered in a citrus-flavored sugar glaze. There will be various other cooking demonstrations and tastings at the Consortium stand.

3:30 – 4:30 pm, PalaCiokoflo’ | PISTOCCHI CAKE – AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE AND PRODUCT ENHANCEMENT – PRODUCT TASTING 

Claudio and Claudia Pistocchi, brother and sister, have been working together in their Florentine workshop for over 30 years. Their cakes are handmade, one by one.

4:30 – 5:30 pm, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce | FINISTERRAE – SHOW COOKING WITH TASTING 

The chef of the nearby Finisterrae restaurant offers all comers a dish dedicated to CiokoFlo’, “the sweetest Tuscan event of the year.”

5:30 – 6:30 pm, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce 

Modica Chocolate Tasting. Free admission until seats are filled

6:30 – 7:30 pm, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce 

SHOW COOKING WITH TASTING – CHOCOLATE PASTE NOUGAT  – BAGNARA CALABRA PGI NOUGAT CONSORTIUM 

The Pastry Chefs of the Bagnara Calabra IGP Torrone Consortium will present a nougat with chocolate paste that they will let everyone in attendance taste. 

Sunday, March 15

9 am – 8 pm, Piazza Santa Croce, at the CIOKO ARTE stand 

MAXI CHOCOLATE SCULPTURE EXHIBITION 

The sculpture can be admired throughout the day.

11:00 am – 12:00 noon, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce 

MODICA CHOCOLATE TASTING

Free admission until seats are filled

12 noon – 12:30 pm, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce | “THE GOLD PASTRY CHEF” AWARD – VETULIO BONDI, MASTER GELATO MAKER

With 44 years of professional experience behind him, author of books, one of the most talented artisanal gelato makers, president of the Florentine Artisan Gelato Makers Association and owner of the historic Florentine brand “I Gelati del Bondi,”  Vetulio has over time developed a passion for teaching and a desire to bring the art of artisanal gelato made in Italy abroad.

3  – 4 pm, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce – CHOCOLATE GOODNESS TASTING

Free event – ​​free admission until seats are filled                                                                                                                                                    

4 – 5 pm, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce – THE VIVANDIERE – SHOW COOKING WITH TASTING   

Presentation of a dish by the Vivandiere Restaurant, located just steps from Piazza Santa Croce, away from the usual tourist crowds.

4 – 5:30 pm, Piazza Santa Croce | FLAG-THROWING PERFORMANCE BY THE CITY OF FLORENCE SBANDIERATORI

The association was founded in 1998 by a small group of friends who wanted to create a professional organization capable of reviving a tradition — an expert display of throwing flags high about their heads in synchonicity —  inextricably linked to the history of the city of Florence.

5 – 5:45 pm, PalaCiokoFlo’, Piazza Santa Croce – FINISTERRAE – SHOW COOKING WITH TASTING

Finisterrae’s chef offers all comers a dish dedicated to CiokoFlo’ called “Bianco, Cervo & Fondente” (White, Deer & Dark Chocolate), featuring a soft cauliflower mousse whipped with cocoa butter, seared venison filet, and its dark chocolate sauce.  (H. R. D./additional reporting by Rosanna Cirigliano)