Stories and legends of the typical Italian Christmas cakes, panettone and pandoro, curiosities and secrets, ingredients and preparation, vintage posters and recent advertising, praise and citations in literature and in the theatre, studies on the economy and sale of these products. Historians and nutritionists, scholars and cooking buffs, producers and artisans love to dwell on these Christmas cakes par excellence of the Italian tradition. The texts are accompanied by around two hundred photographs from the Alinari Archives and Museum, from private and public collections, and in the possession of artisans and industries in the sector. The gallery of historians, politicians, actors, athletes, musicians and even religion "gourmets' of panettone and pandoro is indeed curious. Also included are unusual collection of recipes from the late 1800s with detailed explanations and delightful comments on how to make these cakes, as well as first and second courses of an innovative nouvelle cuisine with recipes based on panettone and pandoro.