Bartolomei Patisserie and Café

In the 1930s, many Italian families moved to Bolzano following the

Italianisation policy implemented by the fascist regime in South

Tyrol. The immigration wave was also a result of the attempt to

industrialise the city and so, like many others, Bembo Bartolomei

moved with his family from the province of Lucca to the Alps. Bembo

founded the Bartolomei café and, while today the Bartolomeis

no longer run the establishment, it was left in good hands to another

immigrant. Hired as a young waiter, Roberto Fontana was born

in Valdastico, and he owes his staying in Bolzano to the family-run

café. It didn't take him long to meet his business partner while out

and about pursuing his passion - paragliding. Peter Zingerle, pâtissier-

cum-paraglider, was a household name in Bolzano until he passed

away in 2017. He delighted everyone with his sweet temptations in

his patisserie - a Bolzano institution - in Via Druso. One fine day he

convinced Roberto to take over the long-established Italian cafe together

- and to sell Zingerle sweets there, of course. An endeavour

which became reality in 1995. The rest, as they say, is history.