Panettone Becomes Art

Panettone Becomes Art

Bar Brera and Pasticceria Martesana to Ignite the Taste of Christmas.

Milan, October 2025 – In a year in which Milan is preparing to host major international events and experience a winter of great cultural and sporting vitality, Bar Brera and Pasticceria Martesana celebrate the city with the second edition of the Panettone dell’Arte 2025. A project that once again brings together artisan excellence, contemporary art and a spirit of sharing, thanks to the collaboration with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, and which fits into the broader narrative of a creative, Olympic, and deeply identity-driven Milan.

This year, the traditional Milanese dessert is presented in an elegant hatbox paying tribute to the upcoming Winter Olympics, illustrated by Gherardo Quadrio Curzio, a young artist from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, under the supervision of Daniele Cardone, partner of Bar Brera. This is not just decoration, but a true visual narrative: a snowy landscape suspended between reality and dream, illuminated by the light of the torch, warming the ожидation and igniting hope. At the center of the image are two figures: on one side the spectator, wrapped in scarf and hat, on the other the athlete in motion, a symbol of creative energy and forward momentum. Guiding them is a large imaginary bird, a recurring presence in Curzio’s works, here becoming a metaphor for creative drive, freedom, and the beauty that unites people through art and sport.

Every detail carries meaning and nothing is left to chance: the chosen colors — blue, yellow, black, green, and red — recall the five rings symbol of the Winter Olympics, echoed also on the packaging lid, divided into concentric sections that evoke movement, connection, and universality.

But the creativity of the Panettone dell’Arte 2025 is not only expressed through its packaging: inside lies a work of art to be savored. A soft and fragrant dough, enriched with candied Sicilian orange, Australian 6 Crown raisins and pure Madagascar vanilla pods: a combination of premium ingredients that highlights the artisanal savoir-faire of Pasticceria Martesana.

“We are deeply proud to present the second edition of the Panettone dell’Arte. At a time when culinary tradition meets contemporary art, this project represents the essence of our commitment as Bar Brera: not only a historic meeting place in the heart of the district, but an active bridge between local excellence.” explains Liborio Navarra, CEO of Bar Brera. He added: “Panettone is the symbol of Milan and, through the poetic vision of Gherardo Quadrio Curzio, it gains a new meaning, becoming a true message of beauty and creativity to share at the table during the holidays. It is a tribute to the cultural dialogue that animates our district and an invitation to celebrate Christmas with taste and an artistic perspective.”

The Panettone dell’Arte will be officially presented on November 13 at 10:00 AM at Room 19 of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts.

The panettone will be available exclusively at Bar Brera, Via Brera 23, 20121 Milan, at a price of €55.00.

Bar Brera, Brera Academy of Fine Arts and Pasticceria Martesana are not official sponsors of the Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Pasticceria Martesana

Founded in 1966 by Master Vincenzo Santoro, Martesana began in Milan as a small neighborhood pastry shop in Via Cagliero, named after the nearby Naviglio canal — and has since become a benchmark in local, national, and international pastry-making. A Historic Shop since 1966, today it is a “Tre Torte” Gambero Rosso pastry shop, renowned for the excellence of its raw ingredients and its iconic Traditional Panettone, made with one of the oldest sourdough starters in all of Milan.

Collaborations with brands such as Moschino (since 2023), the “Best Pastry Chefs in the World” award presented at Host 2023 by Iginio Massari, and the Gelato World Cup 2024 testify to a long-recognized excellence, along with the following awards:

BAR BRERA – Via Brera 23, Milan

Bar Brera traces its roots back to the late 19th century, when it was founded as a meeting place and cultural hub in the heart of Milan’s Brera district. More than just a venue, it is considered an icon in the collective imagination. It has hosted renowned personalities from the Italian and international worlds of culture, music, and art, and still today remains a gathering place for journalists and writers.