Il bel paese
How much are you willing to pay for gelato in Italy?
The Pugliese village home to a €95 golden scoop
A glistening cone of golden gelato draped in edible 24-karat gold leaf, served inside a historic shop in Puglia.
At a standard Italian gelateria, you hand over around €3 for a scoop. But in Ruvo di Puglia, a quiet town tucked away from Puglia’s crowded coast, one historic shop sells a single cone for a staggering €95.
Handcrafted at Mokambo Gelateria, Lo Scettro del Re ("The King's Scepter") is infused with rare Iranian saffron, raw milk, Bronte pistachios, and draped in 24-karat edible gold leaf.
When news of the price broke, it sparked a wild national debate. Critics blasted it as pure vanity, but curious travelers still join a waiting list for the hour-long tasting ritual.
It turns a quick summer snack into culinary drama, proving how a quiet inland village can command global attention through relentless craftsmanship.
Luckily, you can experience Mokambo’s magic without breaking the bank! Skip the €95 gold leaf and order their classic crema or pistachio gelato (churned using original 1840s family recipes) for standard pocket change.
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