Gnocchi is a typical Italian dish made of small ravioli of potato dough. Each region has its own variation, but the most typical ingredients are cheese, spinach, eggs and a variety of sauces. The best place to eat gnocchi in Italy in our opinion is Verona, where every year there is also a day dedicated to this classic dish.Verona Carnival gnocchi have an ancient history. It is said that between 1520 and 1531, due to a flooding of the river Adige and the raids of the Lansquenets, Verona suffered a terrible famine. On 18 June 1531 the population, hungry and desperate, went to attack the ovens of San Zeno to stock up on wheat and bread. The situation was saved by the Podestà and some citizens who provided at their own expense to supply the poorest citizens of the district with food.
The tradition of distributing gnocchi on the last Friday of Carnival sees in Tommaso Da Vico the founder of the Bacanale del Gnocco, having distributed at his own expense among the population basic necessities such as bread, wine and cheese and above all gnocchi, not made of potatoes but of flour and water in the manner of canederli.
From then on in Verona during the period of Canevale the traditional gnocchi with pastissada are eaten, which were once served on the gnocco stone, still clearly visible in front of the churchyard of the Basilica of San Zeno, on the last Friday of Carnival.