Antonio Mattei

Antonio Mattei was a 19th-century Florentine confectioner, famous for creating one of Italy’s most renowned biscuits: the Prato biscuit, or cantuccio.

In 1858, Antonio inherited the family pastry shop and began experimenting with new recipes, including that of cantucci. These biscuits, made from flour, eggs, sugar, almonds and pine nuts, were baked twice to make them crispy and long-lasting, ideal for storage during long sea voyages.

Antonio Mattei’s biscuit factory soon became famous regionally and nationally, so much so that in 1895 it was chosen to represent Tuscany at the International Exhibition in Bordeaux. Since then, the Prato biscuit has become a symbol of Tuscan cuisine and one of the best-loved sweets in Italy and abroad.