The name comes from the habit of the Veronese citizens to attribute the names of the 12 apostles to the twelve merchants of Piazza Erbe, who used to reunite in this tavern to have lunch and conclude their affairs.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Gioco family began to run this charming restaurant, that still today is one of the most traditional and characteristic places of the city; chef Giorgio Gioco is one of the most renowned cooks of Italy. The restaurant is accessed through a beautiful entrance portal made of tufa and bricks and it is signalled by a valuable lantern in wrought iron and glass. The main room is enriched by the presence of paintings on medieval frescos realised by the Arena set designer Pino Casarini.
Highly valuable are the original floors from the 1920s and 1930s, made of Verona marble stone in geometric patterns. The furniture and the wood boiserie on the walls are from early 1900s as well. The cellar of the roman and medieval ages, that is very suggestive for its spaces and archaeological findings, is used to preserve fine wines of Italian production.
Over the years four generations have succeeded one another and for this reason the restaurant 12 Apostoli is part of the Botteghe Storiche catalogue both for quality and seniority.
Interesting facts: the restaurant 12 Apostoli is not only a symbol of tradition and culture, but also an important place where many cultural initiatives are promoted, like the prestigious literary and journalistic award named “Premio 12 Apostoli”. The idea of this award has been inspired by a dedication written by Milanese journalist Orio Vergani during a lunch at the restaurant 12 Apostoli in the 1930s.
Opening year: 1750
