Milan is the Italian city most closely associated with the origin of panettone.
Panettone is a tall, dome-shaped sweet bread traditionally made with a long fermentation. It is enriched with butter, eggs and sugar and commonly contains raisins and candied citrus peel. The bread is strongly associated with Milan, in Italy’s Lombardy region, where the modern commercial tradition developed.
Several legends explain the name and origin, including a story about a kitchen helper named Toni. These tales are popular but do not provide a simple verified account of the bread’s invention. Historical references to Milanese enriched Christmas breads predate the modern legends.
Panettone is now eaten throughout Italy and exported widely. It is often served during Christmas and New Year celebrations, either plain or with cream-based accompaniments. Pandoro is a related Italian festive bread, but it is associated particularly with Verona and usually lacks panettone’s fruit.