Torta Savoia, a triumph of chocolate

Sicilian cooking really knows how to lead you into temptation, especially when it comes to sweets, and one of the island's best-loved cakes is undoubtedly the Torta Savoia.

It is made of layers of biscuit sponge alternating with a soft, indulgent cream made with 3 kinds of chocolate and hazelnuts, and a chocolate coating just waiting to be bitten into.

For Sicilians this cake is a piece of history.

As its name easily suggests, the theory that the cake was dedicated to the royal House of Savoy seems quite evident and plausible. It is harder, however, to say who created it.

According to some, it was the Benedictine nuns of Catania who created it, more than 150 years ago. When Sicily was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy, they made this cake, whose ingredients included hazelnuts, in honour of the new sovereigns. According to others, it was created by a pastry chef from Palermo for a visit by the Savoys to the city.

It's hard to say who is right, but one thing is certain: it's sensational!

Torta Savoia is one of the cakes chocolate lovers appreciate most and, still today, one of the most widely found in Sicilian pasticcerie: perfect for a birthday or a special, festive occasion.