Pasticceria Poppella

Pasticceria Poppella is a bakery at Via Arena alla Sanita 28/29 in the Rione Sanita district of Naples, Campania, Italy. It has operated since 1920 and is known across the city as the home of the fiocco di neve, a soft milk-cream bun filled to order. The Sanita is a historic neighbourhood north of the centre, famous for its catacombs, its churches and the Totò connection, and the bakery has become one of its most visited food addresses, drawing both residents and visitors on a food-focused walk. The cuisine is Neapolitan pastry, and the specialty is the fiocco di neve, whose name means snowflake. The bun is made with a very light, fluffy dough and filled at the counter with a cool, sweet cream, so it is soft, airy and best eaten at once. Other signature items include the Bombetta di Toto, a filled fried or baked pastry named after the Neapolitan comic actor Totò, who was born in the Sanita, and the Torta Napule, a cake that refers to the city in its name. The counter also carries a range of traditional pastries and seasonal sweets. The shop is a casual neighbourhood bakery, busy at peak times with locals and visitors, and the atmosphere is quick and friendly; there is no dress code and little seating, so most items are eaten standing or taken away. The beverage offer is limited, usually coffee and soft drinks. Prices are low, rated at one dollar sign, which makes the fiocco di neve an inexpensive treat. Reservations are not applicable, and walk-ins are the rule. The bakery is open daily during daytime hours, but hours should be confirmed locally. It is close to Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi and the Sanita catacombs, so it pairs naturally with a half-day exploring the district. Visitors often arrive on foot or by taxi from the centre.