The Museum
The history of our company began in 1893 when our great-great-grandfather Giovanni Fabbri moved from Cintoia to Strada in Chianti, a few kilometres closer to Florence, bringing with him the ancient knowledge of his parents who were farmers, millers and pasta makers. Passed down from father to son for five generations, the Fabbri family has handed down its production knowledge and secrets.
Alongside pasta making, each owner has scrupulously preserved the physical heritage handed down by his father, leading to the creation of a rich collection of vintage objects. Giovanni Fabbri, the proud owner and fourth generation of the family, decided to create a Museum that gathers more than 400 objects to date, in addition to a wide range of period books and documents.
Would you like to learn more about the history of the Fabbri family and the village Strada? Visit the website of our Museum and book a visit.
History
Timeline
Giovanni Fabbri: The Founder
Giovanni Fabbri moved from Cintoia and acquired land in Piazza Landi (thanks to his wife’s dowry), where he established his pasta factory with an adjoining mill, bakery and grocery store. At the beginning of the 20th century, the company was located at numbers 1-2-3-4 of the square. Just like in 1893, the pasta factory still frames the town square today.
The Electric Pasta Factory
The Pastificio passed from using a marble wheel with a horse to becoming an electric pasta factory, called “hygienic processing” at the time, as can be read in an invoice dating back to that year which can be found in the Fabbri Museum.
Livio Fabbri, 2nd generation
Upon Giovanni’s death, his son Livio inherited the Pastificio, while his other son Lionello saw to running the bakery and grocery store.
Reconstruction after the war
At the end of the war, the furnace, mill and all the machinery had been mined, and part of the ceiling had collapsed: only the walls remained standing. The Fabbris repaired the damage from the war and started over, with the usual machines, at number 6-7 of the same square.
Renzo Fabbri, 3rd generation
At the helm of the company together with his father Livio, Renzo acquired the first “Cantini” extrusion press to launch a phase of company development. To date, the improved 1958 model continues to be the heart of our production.
The new pasta factory
The Pastificio moved to its current headquarters at no. 18 of the square, where the stables were once located.
Giovanni Fabbri, 4th generation
At the age of 16, Giovanni, great-grandson and namesake of the founder of the family business, entered the Pastificio alongside his father Renzo.
Lisa and Marco, 5th generation
Giovanni’s children Lisa and Marco came to the helm of the company together with their father, as warranted by the family tradition for 125 years.