Everything You Need to Know About Gelato Week

When in Rome, do as the Romans do whether that is exploring historical landmarks, eating pasta by the ton, or consuming as much gelato as you can. On almost every Italian street, you can find an ice cream shop (gelateria) on every corner, and that’s not exclusive to Rome. In Milan, there are so many gelaterias to explore with so many flavors to choose from that it can be an overwhelming experience. Gelato Week, a six-day nationwide celebration of all things gelato, is a great place for any foodie to start their frozen treat journey. 

Started by ConGelato, a website created by four brothers for all ice cream lovers to explore Milan’s best sweet treats, Gelato Week was created to help visitors and locals alike discover the various gelaterias located within the city. Since its conception 12 years ago, Gelato Week has expanded from Milan to other cities such as Rome, Turin, Verona, and Bologna. This year, the sweet treat adventure took place on March 25-30 with around 25 gelaterias participating in each city. From there, the locations are grouped into different routes to make it easier for guests to explore. 

To participate, tickets can be purchased via the ConGelato website for €10 a month in advance or throughout the Gelato Week dates. A cone, cup, or both can be chosen with the ticket. The various locations are grouped into different routes in their respective cities. In Milan, the gelaterias are broken down into the metro lines — red, green, yellow, blue, and lilac. The red, green, and blue routes span across the city while the yellow route sticks to the south and the lilac route to the north of the city. 

For IES Abroad students, the lilac option would be a good choice as it is an accessible route closest to the abroad center. So, you would be able to participate in Gelato Week and explore more of Milan in between classes—it’s a great way to spend the weird two-hour block most students have between classes. However, if you want a line closer to your apartment, here are your best options: for Aparto Giovenale and apartments like Bligny, the yellow or green route will be the best choice; for Aparto Ripamonti, yellow is also a good option; and for Aparto Durando, the lilac route will be the best option. 

While Gelato Week is definitely a fun event to have a ton of gelato and discover new favorite flavors or gelaterias, my favorite thing about these few days is the opportunity to explore new parts of Milan. Oftentimes, we can get stuck in our daily routines as students that we stick to our neighborhoods or regular routes and we don’t see all the various sides of Milan that the city has to offer. A ticket to Gelato Week also provides exclusive discounts and freebies at various establishments such as bars, restaurants, and cafes throughout each city. So, gather your friends, get a ticket, and have a fun time during Gelato Week!