A Celiac's Guide to Eating Gluten Free in Florence, Italy

If you've ever wondered what eating gluten free in Italy looks like, I have good news: it looks like TONS of celiac-safe pizza, pasta, pastries and more. And I'm sharing another guide to Italy, this time covering what I ate as a celiac traveling to Florence in November, 2022. 

If you read my Rome, Italy post, skip to the restaurant list unless you want a refresher on the gluten free basics I'm sharing in both posts! 

*Everyone with celiac disease has different boundaries, and that's OK. If you are looking to dine at only Dedicated Gluten Free restaurants/bakeries, there are several included and clearly marked in this list. I am only including restaurants that I personally tried and had good experiences with, but restaurant options and policies can change. Please treat this as a guide only, and use your own judgement on what options fit your individual dietary needs.*

Basics to Know About Eating Gluten Free in Florence, Italy

How common is gluten free food in Italy?

100% Gluten Free Cafes, Bakeries and even grocery stores are relatively common in Italy, especially in bigger cities like Rome, Naples and Milan. Despite myths otherwise, this isn't because celiac disease is any more prevalent in Italy. It still affects about 1% of the population, the same as most other places in the world. But as Dr. Marco Silano, chair of the Italian Celiac Association, points out, food plays a HUGE role in Italy socialization and culture. So it's especially important to make sure everyone can participate, even if they can't eat gluten. 

The Italian Celiac Association (AIC) works with restaurants to ensure they have proper gluten free protocols and training, and you can find MANY restaurants with entirely dedicated kitchens, prep areas and ovens. And since Italians with celiac receive up to a 140-euro monthly stipend for gluten free food, you can find gluten free food in many pharmacies (as well as all grocery stores). 

How can I find celiac-safe spots in Italy?

I primarily used the Find Me Gluten Free app to check for gluten free friendly spots near me, but you can also pay 2.99 for a 2-week trial of the Italian Celiac Association's app that shows all restaurants approved by the AIC for celiac customers. Many restaurants even have signs out front saying they have gluten free options or are approved by the Italian Celiac Association, so it's decently easy to find options just walking around as well.

Is the language barrier an issue if I don't speak Italian?

My boyfriend and I don't speak any Italian and we only had one or two instances of language issues during our 10-day trip. For the most part, Italy is very English friendly. I would recommend learning some key gluten free phrases in Italian, like:

• Senza glutine = gluten free
• celiaca/celiaco = celiac
• senza lattosio = dairy free
• amido di frumento deglutinato = made with gluten free wheat starch (which is celiac safe but not safe if you have a wheat allergy)

You can also purchase gluten free "restaurant cards" that explain celiac disease and your dietary needs in Italian on Amazon, or I've heard of great things about this one.

What gluten free food can I bring back to the US from Italy?

Customs allowances can change, so always check the US Customs website for the most up-to-date info. But at the time of my trip (and of publishing this in on December, 31 2022), each person can bring $800 worth of goods from Italy. This includes food items like baking mixes, snack bars, chocolate and candy, and most processed items as long as they don't contain meat, cheese or animal products. Find more info here.

Can I eat wheat in Italy if I have celiac??

You can eat gluten-removed wheat flour, which is more common in Europe and specifically formulated to remove the gluten and be safe for celiacs. Regular wheat starch is NOT gluten free and you should only eat wheat starch if it is in a product that is tested and verified to be glute free. And if you have a wheat allergy, this is still not a safe option for you.

Many gluten free pizzas and baked goods in Italy taste as good as gluten BECAUSE they are made with gluten free wheat starch, which results in a much more gluten-like texture. But if you want to avoid gluten removed wheat starch while visiting Italy, that is totally possible. You will just need to ask more questions about ingredients or look for "amido di frumento deglutinato" (made with gluten free wheat starch) on packaging.

A Celiac's Favorite Gluten Free Spots in Florence, Italy

Ciro and Sons - AIC Certified Pizza & Winner of the Gluten Free Pizza Championship

Ciro and Sons is a world champion for gluten free pizza, and can make almost everything on their menu gluten free and lactose free, including all their pizzas! They’re certified by the Italy Celiac Association. Gluten free meals are made in a dedicated kitchen and they have AMAZING gluten free bread as an appetizer. 

This is one of the only places I dined at in Italy with vegan cheese available. And my gluten free, lactose free pizza with vegan cheese was delicious and the crust impressed me AND the gluten-eating boyfriend. 

The gluten free pizza was fluffy in the middle, crispy on the edges and and it was SUCH a treat to get WARM, FREE gluten free bread as an appetizer when they brought the regular gluten bread. And my bf even liked my gluten free bread better than his. 

Venchi - 95% Gluten Free Chocolate Store in Florence, Venice, London and More

Venchi is a chocolate store in the Florence and Venice train stations (and many others, I assume) that has Certified Gluten Free luxury chocolates, many of which are also dairy free and vegan. They also have gelato that is 100% gluten free, and all the chocolate in their store (except for ones in display cases that could have come in contact with gluten) are gluten free. If you're a chocoholic like me, this shop will feel like paradise!

If you aren't in Italy yet but are soon going to be in New York, London, Egypt or another big city, you can also find Venchi at many spots in the rest of the world.

Sgrano - 100% Gluten Free Cafe 

Sgrano is a 100% gluten free restaurant with gluten free sandwiches, pizzas, desserts and more. We were in a rush and ended up getting sandwiches instead of the fried dough balls I was eyeing that would take extra time. My boyfriend said this was the best gluten free bread he’s ever had, and the sandwiches were bigger than our heads (literally) too!

I will say that this is the BUSIEST restaurant we were at during our entire visit, even though it was the off-season, so I'd prepare for a wait or order your food ahead-of-time before sightseeing in Florence for a bit and coming back to grab it. 

Cortese Cafe 900 - 100% Gluten Free and Vegan Coffee and Chocolate Shop

This 100% gluten free, vegan and raw coffee and chocolate shop is located in the historic area of Florence, Italy. They have delicious chocolate desserts, ice cream and coffee. Many cafes in Italy DO have a soy milk option but this was one of the few with almond milk (which I personally do best with).

All treats have the ingredients written next to them so it’s easy to avoid gluten free oats, if needed. We both got cappuccinos (very creamy, loved the sugar to sprinkle on top) + several raw treats. Even my vegan-skeptic boyfriend was impressed by the desserts!

Lorenzo de' Medicini - AIC Certified Restaurant

This pizza and pasta restaurant is certified by the Italy Celiac Association to be celiac safe, and they actually have the same menu as Ciro and Sons. I ordered seafood pasta, and all the seafood was cooked well and the pasta was super flavorful. My boyfriend got the steak, which was also very tasty.

Overall, though, it felt like a less upscale version of Ciro and Sons. (I was also kinda bummed they didn't offer any free gluten free bread when they brought the regular bread to the table -- unlike at Ciro and Sons). So this restaurant is definitely not a bad option, but not my first pick for when we go back to Italy. 

Antica Gelateria Fiorentina - 100% Gluten Free Gelato

This gelato shop is 100% gluten free (even the ice cream cones & cookies are gluten free) and have many dairy free flavors. This was my favorite gelato spot in Italy, mainly because of the variety in dairy free flavors, including dark chocolate. 

Pin this Gluten Free Rome, Italy Guide for Future Use!

I'd love to hear if you've ever been to Italy since going gluten free, or what you would be most excited to eat there! I will be posting my guide to eating gluten free in Venice next!