The Matthew at JCU Articles, In Photos

Living Legacies: The Passion and Struggle of Maintaining a Family Business in Italy

LUCCA: February 3, 2024 CarloAndrea Tuccori, 56, (left), Giulia Cei, 28, (middle), and Francesca Urbani, 52 (right) pose for a photo in front of the vineyard of Fratelli Urbani Società Agricola dal 1896. Francesca is one of the fourth-generation owners of the winery.

In Photos

By Nekane Moyer |Edited by Victoria Vega

In running her business, Antonella Fabri, 62, says that the basis of her success is founded on dedication, passion, and commitment. She is the first-generation owner of Don Chisciotte Asd, a 31-year-old horse ranch in Rome run by her and her son, Pierfrancesco Moroni, 24. Although running a family business brings many difficulties, Fabri claims that commitment pushes them forward to provide the best performance possible. It is the relationships that she makes with those that visit her ranch that makes running the business worthwhile.

Rome: March 24, 2024. Antonella Fabri, 62, the first-generation owner of Don Cuisciotte (right) and Pierfrancesco Moroni, 24, her son (middle) pose for a photo with one of their horses. Antonella is the President of FISE, an organization for Italian equestrian sports, and her son serves as the VP.
Rome: March 24, 2024 Paola Occhiuto, 23, rides a horse. She grew up working and helping out on Don Cuisciotta since she was 8 years old. Now working a full-time job, she helps them during the weekends and does their social media and graphics.

Furthermore, Andrea Fassi, 40, the fifth-generation CEO of the 144-year-old gelateria Palazzo del Freddo in Rome, believes that maintaining a family business holds a sense of legacy.

Rome: March 8, 2024. Andrea Fassi, 40, the fifth-generation CEO of Palazzo del Freddo, poses for a photo. He opened multiple gelateria parlors in Seoul and Shanghai.

“It is like a legacy for their customers. People feel something particular here. Customers have childhood memories here,” he said.

Rome: March 8, 2024. Armando Mazza, 61, puts gelato in a container.
He has worked at Palazzo del Freddo for 40 years.

Salvatore Grasso, 77, furthers this idea of generational legacy and impact by sharing that tradition and experience were handed down in the family business. He is the fifth-generation owner of the 108-year-old pizzeria and ristorante Gorizia 1916 in Naples.

Naples, Italy. February 28, 2024 Salvatore Grasso, 77, the third-generation owner of Gorizia 1916, holds a menu with a page dedicated to the history of the family business.
Naples, Italy. Feb. 28, 2024 Giuseppe Equabile, 33, prepares to put the pizza in the oven at Gorizia 1916.

According to the XIV edition of the AUB Observatory, family businesses make up 65% of the Italian companies and bring in more than 20 million euros.

Roberto Tito Paolucci, 27, a farmer who protested the European policies in February 2024, asks the world to be wary of the shady elites, skip the intermediaries, and buy from the original sources.

Rome: Feb. 17, 2024, Roberto Tito Paolucci, 27, stands and holds a flag at an agricultural protest against the EU policies along Via dei Cerchi.

“The trade associations don’t support us, so we have to organize ourselves differently.

Rome: Feb. 17, 2024 A man talks to a group of people at the agricultural protest near Via dei Cerchi.
The protest was initiated by farmers who desire better agricultural support from the EU and government.

Governments on their side only listen to accredited bodies, which don’t listen to our requests,” he said.

Rome: Feb. 17, 2024. A tractor on a trailer along Via dei Cerchi with a sign in Italian that says, “I have been bringing food for 3 generations and I still do not stop.”

Laura Marini, 35, the third-generation owner of the 94-year-old Pasta all’Uovo Marini dal 1930 in Rome, also reveals the desire for a support network to help make family businesses known.

Rome: Feb. 10, 2023. Siro Laura Marini, 35, packages tortellini for a customer at
Pasta all’Uovo Marini dal 1930.
Rome: Feb. 10, 2023. Siro Laura Marini, 35, cuts fettuccine at Pasta all’Uovo Marini dal 1930.

Francesca Urbani, 52, one of the fourth-generation owners of the 128-year-old winery Fratelli

LUCCA, Italy. Feb. 3, 2024. CarloAndrea Tuccori, 56, (left), Giulia Cei, 28, (middle), and Francesca Urbani, 52 (right) pose for a photo in front of the vineyard of Fratelli Urbani Società Agricola dal 1896. Francesca is one of the fourth-generation owners of the winery.

Urbani Società Agricola dal 1896 conveys that family businesses not only benefit the present and respect the past, but also provides for future generations.

LUCCA, Italy. Feb. 3, 2024. CarloAndrea Tuccori, 56, prunes the vine branches. He helped renovate Fratelli Urbani Società Agricola dal 1896 by introducing wine tastings to the business.

“We want our family business to be able to continue at the cost of many sacrifices. We want to leave future generations the chance to take advantage of the great opportunities that are being created today,” she said.