For anyone from Ferrara, Pizzeria Arcobaleno isn’t just a historic business in the center, but a small piece of collective memory. It’s the taste of a tradition that spans generations, the memory of a quick slice of pizza shared on the go, of a stop in the city, of a place that has become familiar over time. 55 years after it was born, Pizzeria Arcobaleno continues to be a point of reference for Ferrara, which has allowed it to become one of the city’s historic shops. To tell this long story made of work, passion and continuity, we interviewed the daughters of the Buti family – Chiara and Federica – who, together with their father Rolando, carry on the business every day with the same spirit as always.
This year, Pizzeria Arcobaleno turns 55: how does it feel to look at this milestone?
It’s a very strong emotion, because it means looking back on a story that spans more than half a century, made of sacrifice, daily work but also great affection from the city. Arcobaleno hasn’t just been a pizzeria: for many people it has become a point of reference, a place close to the heart, tied to the memories of entire generations of people from Ferrara.
How did your adventure in Ferrara begin?
It all began in 1971, although the idea had come about a little earlier. Our father Rolando Buti arrived in Ferrara with Maria – our mother – during their honeymoon, after having worked for years at the Acciaierie di Terni steelworks. At some point the desire matured to change their life and build something more personal and family-oriented. That’s how the opportunity came up to enter the restaurant world and bet on a pizza-by-the-slice shop.
Was choosing the premises immediate, or were there difficulties at the start?
It wasn’t easy at all. The first space that seemed available turned out, in fact, no longer to be, so there was a moment of uncertainty. Then, passing through the area between San Romano and Santa Rita, a shop was noticed that was becoming vacant right where Arcobaleno is still found today. The owner enthusiastically welcomed the idea of hosting a pizza-by-the-slice shop, which at the time was a novelty for that part of the city.
What were the first months of business like?
They were demanding months, because every beginning requires energy, patience and a spirit of adaptation. Our mother would go to Ravenna to learn and perfect the dough, while in Ferrara we tried to grow the shop day by day. At the start, takings were modest, but little by little business grew, so much so that the first employees arrived within the first few months. That was the sign that the business was taking hold.
In your view, what was the secret that made Arcobaleno so loved by the people of Ferrara?
Product quality certainly counts, but it’s not enough. The real value has always been the family character of the place, the direct relationship with people, consistency and simplicity. Arcobaleno has become part of Ferrara’s everyday life: for many it means the slice of pizza eaten on the go as kids, the stop in the center, a habit that over time has turned into a shared memory. And still today, even among the youngest, this tradition has taken root, to the point of becoming an almost daily habit.
Today, what does Arcobaleno represent for you and for the city?
Today Arcobaleno represents continuity, generational too. We – Chiara and Federica – both grew up inside this business and carry its identity forward with the same spirit with which it was born. After 55 years, the pizzeria is both a historic business and a small piece of the city’s heritage: a distinctive place that tells the story of Ferrara through work, flavours, memories and a genuine bond with people.
