Colomba Cake
HISTORY, PLACES, INFO, INTERESTING FACTS

To discover the true history of the Colomba cake, you don’t have to go back too far in time. Although there are many legends about its origins, it was the ingenious publicist of an important confectionery company, Motta, who invented the cake as we know it today in the 1930s. So let’s delve into the fascinating past of this speciality, finding out delicious information and interesting facts. Happy reading!

The history of colomba cake.

There are many legends about the origin of the colomba cake. One of them dates back to the Lombard period: it is said that in 572 A.D., during the siege of Pavia, King Alboin received as a gift some sweets in the shape of doves. This gesture supposedly moved him to pity, sparing the city from destruction. Another story describes a miracle performed by Saint Columbanus, who, also in the 6th century, is said to have transformed meat into bread doves during a Lenten banquet.

The only specific reference to the birth of the Easter specialty, as we know it today, dates back to the 1930s. It was then that Dino Villani, advertising director of the famous ‘Motta’ confectionery company from 1934 to 1939, had the brilliant idea of creating an Easter cake using the same dough as the panettone, but in the shape of a dove and covered with a sugar icing enriched with almonds. Thanks to this ingenious idea, he achieved a double benefit: not only did he succeed in keeping the factories used for Christmas panettone operational, which would otherwise have been idle for a long time, but at the same time he gave birth to a new classic of Italian taste.

Villani’s Colomba was so successful that other Milanese companies soon began producing it, contributing to its spread. Over the years, thanks in part to its distinctive shape, this delicacy has become one of the symbols of the Italian taste at the table.

Notes:

*1: These were rich celebrations in honor of the god Saturn, held annually at a time that now corresponds to the end of December.

Let’s find out everything there is to know about Colomba cake, from preparation to variations, from calories to pairings … and much more, in the article we have dedicated to the sweet Easter speciality.

Milan, the city of the colomba cake.

As well as being one of Italy’s most famous and important cities (especially in economic terms), Milan is a veritable treasure trove of culinary delights. Local gastronomy is expressed through iconic dishes such as the colomba cake and its famous cousin, panettone, as well as delicacies such as the golden saffron risotto, the crispy cutlet, the rustic ‘cassoeula’ and mouth-watering ‘ossobuco’. Each of these dishes tells a story of Milan’s long history.

Dino Villani: the ‘father’ of the Colomba cake.

In the vast panorama of Italian confectionery history, the figure of Dino Villani undoubtedly stands out: a man of many facets and a professional able to leave an indelible mark.

As advertising director of the famous Milanese company Motta in the 1930s, he was a true pioneer of what is known as ‘integrated marketing’: a strategy aimed at presenting a product to the public through various communication tools, using them synergistically to maximize their effectiveness.
His greatest stroke of genius came from the need to optimize the seasonal production of Motta, which had become famous for its panettone cakes.

He understood the potential of using the same dough and the same machinery for the Christmas cake to create a ‘new’ delicacy for Easter. This is how the dove, with its characteristic bird shape, enriched with a sugar and almond glaze, was born. It should be pointed out that Villani not only invented it but also took care of its image and distribution, making it a true symbol of the Easter festivities.

The history of colomba cake: Motta Company.

Motta, an icon of the Italian confectionery scene, was born in Milan in 1919 thanks to the entrepreneurial initiative of Angelo Motta. Initially known as ‘Angelo Motta Pasticciere’, the company started in an artisan workshop in Via della Chiusa. Right from the start, panettone became its most popular specialty. Due to the remarkable success of its products, the business developed rapidly, so much so that in 1925 a second, larger workshop was opened in Via Carlo Alberto. The invention of the colomba also contributed to the growth of the company, which became a joint stock company in 1937. The Fifties saw the birth of two Motta delicacies that soon became iconic: ‘Mottarello’ (1951), one of the first packaged ice-creams in Italy, and ‘Buondì’ (1953), the light, iced snack that became a breakfast classic in the Belpaese. Today, the Motta brand is managed by another major confectionery company: Bauli S.p.a.

The ‘design’ of colomba cake.

The outline of the Easter dove, which resembles that of a bird with its wings outstretched, is a clear reference to the symbolic meaning that the Christian religion attributes to this animal, which is seen as a messenger of peace, salvation, and resurrection.

The brilliant intuition of Dino Villani, Motta’s advertising director (*1) and the ‘inventor’ of the cake (*2), was precisely to understand that this particular shape would be the key to distinguishing it from another product that was very similar in many ways, namely panettone, making it highly recognizable to consumers. By combining religious tradition with targeted visual communication, Villani created a commercial and marketing success that continues to this day.

Note

*1: Famous Milanese confectioner for whom Villani worked in the 1930s.

*2: Although it is debatable who actually invented the Easter dove, it is undeniable that Dino Villani was the one who gave it the commercial fame it still enjoys today.

The religious symbolism of colomba cake.

The colomba cake is characterized by a deep religious symbolism: something that is particularly important in Italy, a country with a strong Catholic tradition and home to the Vatican. Its dove shape is no coincidence: this particular bird represents peace, love, and rebirth: elements closely linked to Easter, a holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the renewal of the soul. In the 1930s, Dino Villani, advertising director of the Milanese company Motta, recognized the importance of these values and used them to create a dessert that would soon become a true classic.

Motta: contacts.

This article was made in collaboration with Bauli S.p.a., the company that owns the brand of Motta, the historical producer of the colomba cake.

Contacts

Address: Bauli S.p.A – Via Verdi 31 – 37060 Castel d’Azzano (VR) – Italia
Web:https://www.bauli.it/
Tel. : 800 888 166

The images displayed in this page belong to WebFoodCulture and Bauli S.p.a., with the exception of:

Public Domain images:

First Motta shop in Via della Chiusa (Milan 1919) (Wikipedia Link);
The jury table with Dino Villani (Wikipedia Link);

Colomba Cake HISTORY, PLACES, INFO, INTERESTING FACTS