His small shop, opened in 1992 in the historic Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano, is now known worldwide.
Born in Monteriggioni on 12 September 1953, his professional path began in the kitchen. During hospitality school, he started working in the sector, both in Italy and abroad, particularly in France and Germany, where he gained experience in front-of-house service and the fundamentals of cooking.
After completing his studies, he returned to Germany, where he worked in restaurants and hotels in the area before opening his own pizzeria, which he sold in 1984.
His life changed in 1977, when he met Franca, an Italian woman who worked in a gelateria with her sisters. They went on to have three children: Valeria, Stefano and Sara.
It was through his brother-in-law, an experienced gelato maker, that Sergio first came into contact with artisan gelato, opening his first gelateria, “Pinocchio”, in a small town in Germany.
Since then, guided by deep passion and daily dedication to his work, Sergio has developed a product of outstanding quality, recognised both in Italy and internationally. He is also the first master gelato maker in Italy to receive the MAM Award: Maestro d’Arte e Mestiere, a “Living National Treasure” of Italian craftsmanship.
The business of Sergio and his family expanded in 2022 and 2023 with the opening of new locations in Paris and Poggibonsi, alongside the historic gelateria in San Gimignano.
In 2025, Sergio Dondoli’s life became the subject of a documentary, Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life, directed by Jay Arnold.
The documentary Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life, directed by Jay Arnold (2025).
Where to find us
Piazza della Cisterna 4, San Gimignano, Italy
87 Rue du Temple, Galleria Continua, Paris, France
Via Fassati 1, Poggibonsi, Italy
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Credits: Dinamo