“Cooking the good one, is a sign of civilization, Its value is not smaller than the one of a beautiful landscape or of a piece of art, It helps nations understanding each other, and people loving each other, It makes up a heritage of moral attentions, The love for the family, for home, For poetry and local traditions.” Giorgio Gioco, 1973

In memory of Giuseppe Silvestri.

12 Apostoli, placed in the heart of the enchanting city of Verona, a few steps far from the glorious Arena, is not only a restaurant.

We have to state that 12 Apostoli cannot be called only restaurant, since it has being for more than 100 years, 121 to be accurate, a meeting point for actors, artists, singers, musicians, writers, designers, scientists, tradesmen, businessman and journalists. The singular magic which pervades this location, is the one that makes a mixture of artists, kings (Karl Gustav of Sweden was here drinking typical Valpollicella) and ordinary people, as one unique group of commensals, who have in common the love for the simplest and noblest art of Italian cuisine.

HISTORY

In 1750, twelve tradesmen who worked in the area of Piazza delle Erbe used to meet in these premises, which was already a sort of inn. It was here that they did business, over a steaming dish of pasta and beans and a glass of Valpollicella.

People from the city would call this singular group of friends the “12 Apostoli” (12 Apostles) hence the name of the place that they used to frequent on a daily basis. In the early 1900s, the Gioco family began running this charming establishment, which is still one of the oldest and most characteristic in the city today.

THE WINE SELLAR

Interesting remains from Roman and medieval times were accidentally found in the wine cellar at the end of the 1980’s, while their original 18th century vault was being restored.

There are approximately 50 metres, perfectly preserved, of a podium from a holy temple dating back to 50 AD; they lead into a section of Roman roads more preciselythe first north - south street ( cardine) to the left of the Cardo Maximus - together with the relevant exposed canalisation from the same period. As well as the large stones of the Roman roads, there is a significant portion of the crypto portico from the Curia, which is also extremely well preserved.

The medieval structure that can be seen is the foundation of a turret house

from 1250, built using river stones and blocks recovered after the natural collapse of the outer ring of the city’s amphitheatre ( the Arena). These remains can be seen in the restaurant’s wine cellars, which are also home, to some of Italy’s fi nest wines.

12 APOSTOLI PRIZE

The 12 Apostoli Prize, established in 1968, was an award made of journalists and writers, who have distinguished themselves with the recent publication of a book. The 12 Apostoli Prize consists in a particularly fine sculpture (G.Bogoni L. Minguzzi N. Finotti). The awards ceremony is held during an amicable meal at the 12 Apostoli Restaurand and it is now an extremely important part of Verona’s cultural panorama.

GUESTBOOK

Hereinafter you will find the names of some of the many characters from the spheres of Politics, Culture, Art and Entertainment, who have graced the restaurant with their presence since the turn of the 20th century: Ingrid Bergman, Maria Callas, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Giorgio De Chirico, Antonio De Curtis (a.k.a. Totò), Eduardo de Filippo, Federico Fellini, Greta Garbo, Vittorio Gassman, Hernest Hemingway among the others.

12 APOSTOLI RESTAURANT

Corticella S. Marco, 3

37121 Verona, Italy

Tel. +39 045 596999

Fax +39 045 591530

www.12apostoli.com

dodiciapostoli@tiscali.it