Gran Caffé Doney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gran Caffé Doney or Doney's was a cafeteria in Florence before World War II. It was located on Via Tornabuoni, near the British Consulate. The Doney was particularly favoured by British nationals who lived in Florence.
When Benito Mussolini attacked Abyssinia (presently Ethiopia), the British expressed their public disapproval. This led to some outbreaks of Fascist violence at the Gran Caffé Doney in 1935–36.
The most famous customers of Gran Caffé Doney have been the smart set lady Violet Trefusis who got an audience with Mussolini in 1937, and a group of eldery English ladies called The Scorpioni who were active in Florence between the World Wars.
Gran Caffé Doney is also mentioned in Franco Zeffirelli's autobiographical film, Tea with Mussolini.
Presently the Gran Caffé Doney is in the Excelsior, a hotel in Rome.
