Museo delle pastiglie Leone

The Leone Museum tells the story of more than 170 years of one of Italy's oldest confectionery companies, inside the factory where pastilles, sweets and chocolate are still made today. It all began in 1857 in Neive, in the Piedmont hills, in the inn where Luigi Leone watched his father offer guests a small aromatic pastille at the end of a meal. From there, the story moves on to the Turin shop of 1900, supplier to the Royal House of Savoy, and to Giselda Balla Monero, "the Lioness", who from 1934 safeguarded its recipes and secrets. Today Leone belongs to the Barilla family. The visit combines period settings, historic recipe books, moulds to touch, essences to smell and the long collection of iconic tins. Large windows overlook the production area, as far as the stone mill-stones that still work the Raw Chocolate ("Cioccolato Grezzo").

Via Italia 46, 10093 Collegno (TO)

Available itineraries

Leone Pastilles Museum Visit

A journey of more than 170 years into the history of Leone, from the inn in Neive where the first pastille was born to today's production lines. The itinerary follows the story of the families who have led Leone: Luigi Leone, then the "Leonessa" Giselda Balla Monero, and finally Barilla. It guides visitors through period confectioners' shops, historic recipe books, moulds, essences and collectible tins. Along the way, you can observe chocolate-making up close, from the roasting of the beans to the stone mills, and discover the Turin of historic cafés, of the bicerin and of the Cri-Cri. The main stops are accompanied by short trails of curiosities, for those who want extra anecdotes and details.

Leone Pastilles Museum Visit - For Children

A little Leone pastille acts as the guide and tells its own story in the first person. It was born more than 170 years ago in an inn in the hills of Piedmont and takes children with it to Turin and then around the world. Along the way there are moulds to touch, essences to smell, mysterious ingredients, a model that comes to life and even the chance to create your own pastille following Giselda's advice. In simple words, the pastille explains how sweets and chocolate are made, who the Leonessa was and why Leone tins have been collected for more than a century.

Museo delle pastiglie Leone